German authorities on Saturday canceled a popular Pride festival after numerous people were injured and one killed when a white van rammed the festivities in Berlin.
"We are currently deployed with numerous police forces as well as rescue units from the Berlin Fire Department in the Großer Tiergarten," Berlin Police said in a translated X post after telling festivalgoers to leave the area.
Police said there are at least 16 people injured were being treated by rescue personnel.
The incident occurred during the European city's annual Christopher Street Day festival, an LGBTQ+ Pride event.
GUNFIRE SHATTERS TORONTO LATIN STREET FESTIVAL, LEAVING AT LEAST 2 DEAD AND MULTIPLE WOUNDED
"We are conducting an intensive manhunt for suspects," police added, later clarifying that it could be one or more suspects.
"At this point, we don’t know anything about possible motives, the identity of the perpetrator or the perpetrators, or anything of that nature," Police spokesperson Alexander Klute told The Associated Press.
After the van plowed into the crowd it hit a tree, police said.
More than 2,000 officers have been protecting the event since it started Saturday morning.
In an update, the police said several of the injuries are life-threatening.
Hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the event, which included a parade and ended Saturday evening with a show at Tiergarten park near Brandenberg Gate.
"It is an attack on our free and open society - after a peaceful and colorful CSD, the assembly for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal way," BErlin Mayor Kai Wegner said in a translated X post. "Berlin is the city of freedom - and our freedom has been attacked in the most horrific way today. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends. I thank the emergency services who were immediately on site and did everything in their power. And I trust the police and security authorities, who will investigate at full speed."
