German police shot and killed Abdul Ballout, the 21-year-old suspect in a deadly vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack at Berlin’s Pride celebration, following a day-long manhunt. The attack occurred around 10 p.m. on Saturday in Tiergarten park near the Brandenburg Gate during the closing events of Christopher Street Day, one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ festivals.
Authorities said Ballout drove a white rental van into a crowd of festival-goers, killing a woman and injuring 29 others, several seriously. After the vehicle collided with a tree, Ballout exited and attacked people with a bladed weapon, reportedly a machete, before fleeing on foot. Witnesses reported seeing one or more individuals leave the van and assault bystanders, prompting police to investigate possible accomplices.
The suspect, a German citizen of Lebanese descent, was known to law enforcement for his history of criminal offenses, radicalization, and links to Islamist extremist circles. Last year, he traveled to Lebanon in an unsuccessful attempt to join the Islamic State (ISIS). He was detained there and served three months in prison for incitement to religious and racial conflict before being deported back to Germany.
In May, Ballout was convicted by a Berlin juvenile court for preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state and for disseminating extremist propaganda. He received a suspended sentence of one year and ten months youth custody and was ordered to attend a de-radicalization program, which he had begun but reportedly had not yet completed.
Following the attack, a nationwide manhunt involving around 2,000 police officers included searches at Berlin’s transport hubs and several property raids, including Ballout’s family home, where relatives live. Several people have been detained in connection with the case, including an Iranian national, although authorities have not confirmed any accomplices.
The suspect was located on Sunday evening in an allotment garden complex in the Spandau district of western Berlin. According to police spokesman Florian Nath, when officers attempted to take him into custody, Ballout charged at them with a knife, prompting police to open fire. Despite immediate medical efforts, he died at the scene.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt characterized the attack as Islamist terrorism, citing Ballout’s radicalization and previous offenses. Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack as “abhorrent” and an assault on German society, emphasizing resolve to defend freedom and openness. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described it as an attack on the city’s free and cosmopolitan character.
LGBTQ+ groups and event organizers expressed shock and grief at the violence, with memorials and vigils held across Berlin. Hundreds of thousands had gathered for the Christopher Street Day festivities before celebrations were cut short following the attack.
The incident has reignited discussions in Germany on security and extremism ahead of regional elections, highlighting concerns about Islamist threats and public safety. German officials noted that while Ballout had been under observation, questions remain about how such attacks might be prevented in the future.
Authorities continue to investigate the motivations and potential network behind the incident, with no further suspects currently sought. Police have urged the public to remain vigilant but stated there is no immediate additional threat.