A TikTok user has sparked fierce online debate after claiming that young white Christian men were celebrating the deadly Berlin Pride attack, despite German police identifying the wanted suspect as a man known to Islamist circles.
A woman on TikTok has come under scrutiny after posting a video in response to the deadly attack at Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride celebrations, in which she accused “young white men with crosses in their profiles” of celebrating the violence online. Her comments were made after German authorities identified 21-year-old Abdul B. as the fugitive suspect and said he was known to police as a member of Islamic circles in Berlin. The video has since circulated widely across social media as debate continues over reactions to the attack.
The incident itself remains under active investigation after a vehicle was driven into crowds near Berlin’s Pride celebrations, leaving one person dead and at least 17 others injured. Authorities later said investigators also believe several victims were stabbed, suggesting the attack may have involved more than the vehicle alone.
TikTok video draws attention
In her video, the woman said she was frustrated by what she described as repeated attempts to shift blame onto other groups whenever an attack takes place.
Referring to early reports identifying the suspect as an alleged Islamic extremist, she said she was not willing to judge the wider Muslim population based on the actions of one individual.
However, she then turned her criticism towards another group, claiming she had seen “young white men” with Christian crosses displayed on their social media profiles celebrating news of the attack online.
She argued that those individuals held beliefs similar to those she associated with the suspect and accused them of attempting to distance themselves from the violence out of shame.
The woman did not provide evidence within the video to support her claim that those celebrating the incident were predominantly young white Christian men, and it is unclear which specific online posts she was referring to.
Berlin attack investigation continues
Meanwhile, German police continue an extensive manhunt for Abdul B., who remains wanted in connection with the attack.
Investigators say the suspect allegedly drove a vehicle into pedestrians before the car crashed into a tree in Tiergarten Park. Officers now believe one or more people exited the vehicle after the collision and that several victims suffered stab wounds during the incident.
At least 17 people were injured, with eight reported to have sustained serious injuries and three remaining in life-threatening condition.
Berlin police spokesman Florian Nath said the suspect was already known to officers.
“The suspect is known to police. He is known to us as a member of Islamic circles here in Berlin, and our search for this person is proceeding at full speed,” Nath said.
He also stressed that investigators have not yet established a motive and that many aspects of the case remain under investigation.
Pride celebrations cut short
Hundreds of thousands of people had gathered for Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day celebrations before the attack brought festivities to an abrupt halt.
Organisers cancelled the remainder of the event, while police urged people to leave the area calmly as emergency services responded.
More than 2,200 officers had already been deployed across the German capital for the Pride celebrations, with security significantly increased as the search for the suspect continues.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the attack as an assault on the city’s values of freedom, tolerance and diversity, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz said authorities would do everything possible to locate those responsible.
Police have also appealed for witnesses, photographs and video footage from members of the public to assist detectives as the investigation remains ongoing.
