One person died and 16 others were injured, including three with life-threatening injuries.

German police searched on Sunday for a 21-year-old believed to be linked to Islamist circles after a car ploughed into crowds near Berlin's Gay Pride celebrations, killing one person and wounding 16 others.

The incident shattered what had been a day of celebration for hundreds of thousands attending Christopher Street Day, one of Europe's largest Pride events. Revellers fled Berlin's most famous park as sirens echoed through the night.

Police told AFP the suspect's vehicle was found abandoned near the Tiergarten park. They launched a manhunt involving helicopters and officers from several German states across the capital.

Police and prosecutors appealed for information on a 21-year-old man identified as Abdul B, warning he may be armed and dangerous.