A violent incident at a Berlin Pride celebration on Saturday night has resulted in the death of one woman and left at least 29 others injured. Authorities are investigating the event, which occurred around 22:00 local time at Tiergarten park near the Brandenburg Gate, as a suspected Islamist terror attack.
Witnesses reported that a rented white van was driven into crowds participating in the Christopher Street Day festivities. In addition to the vehicle impact, there were reports of individuals being attacked with a blade, potentially a machete. The event was immediately halted, with organizers projecting evacuation instructions to the thousands of attendees present.
The suspect, identified by police as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, was tracked during a massive city-wide manhunt. He was eventually located at an allotment complex in the Spandau district. According to officials, Ballout was shot and killed by police after he charged at officers while wielding a knife.
Public prosecutors revealed that Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese descent, had a documented history of radicalization and criminal activity. He had previously been arrested in Lebanon in 2025 for alleged ties to the Islamic State group and was serving a deferred prison sentence in Germany for preparing a serious act of violence. His prior criminal record also included convictions for robbery and assault.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the incident as a "heinous" attack. International leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the prime ministers of the Netherlands and Italy, have issued statements condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with the victims.
Source: BBC News
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