The highest officials of the institutions of the European Union expressed their sorrow this Sunday for the mass run-over that occurred on Saturday night during the Pride celebrations in Berlin, an event being investigated as a possible terrorist attack that has resulted in at least one death and 16 injuries, several of them in serious condition.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has conveyed her condolences to the relatives of the victims and has reminded that the Pride celebration "represents freedom, dignity, and equality of rights, fundamental values of the EU."
"Every person must be able to live, love, and defend their rights without fear. Hatred and violence have no place in our societies. We stand united alongside the LGBTQI+ community," emphasized the German leader in a message on social media.
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has also shown her solidarity through a brief statement in German disseminated on her official profiles. "Today our thoughts are with the victims of the attack in Berlin, their families, and all the people participating in Christopher Street Day (Berlin Pride)"
In the same vein, the Maltese conservative politician has stressed that "hatred and violence have no place" in a "Europe of freedom and respect." "We will continue to stand united against those who want to sow fear and division," she stated.
The President of the European Council, the Portuguese António Costa, has shared this position and described Saturday's attack as a direct aggression against "the values" that underpin the European project.
"The European Union condemns in the strongest terms any form of hatred, extremism, and violence. We stand in solidarity with Germany, the German people, and the entire LGBTQI+ community," Costa pointed out in a message also written in German.
The German authorities have issued a detention order against the alleged perpetrator, identified as Abdul B., 21 years old, who fled after the events. According to the DPA agency, the police have searched a residence in the Berlin district of Schöneberg as part of the investigation.
The hit-and-run occurred when a vehicle rammed into a group of people in Tiergarten park in Berlin shortly before 10:00 PM on Saturday, during the Pride celebration. The suspect, who allegedly stabbed several people shortly after, fled after crashing the car into a tree.
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has described the incident as "abominable." "The act will be clarified and prosecuted with full severity. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery and thank all law enforcement for their intervention," he stated.