Berlin Pride attack suspect shot dead in police operation
The man suspected of carrying out an attack at Berlin Pride has been shot and killed by police. The attack killed one woman and injured at least 29 others.
Police shot and killed Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen of Lebanese heritage, on Sunday after he rushed at officers with a knife in the Spandau district of western Berlin. The suspect was the target of a massive manhunt following the attack late Saturday evening.
The incident began around 22:00 local time on Saturday when a white van drove into a crowd near Tiergarten park, killing one woman and injuring at least 29 people. Several others were then injured in a stabbing attack, according to police.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters on Sunday that evidence suggested it was an "Islamist terror attack." He described the suspect as having a long criminal record, radicalisation, and links to the Islamist scene.
The Berlin public prosecutor's office revealed that in May 2025, Ballout travelled to Lebanon via Turkey intending to join the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. He was arrested in Lebanon in July 2025 and sentenced to three months in prison for incitement to religious and sectarian conflict. After returning to Germany in November 2025, he was arrested at Berlin Brandenburg Airport and held in pre-trial detention. In May this year, he was sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison for "preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state," but the sentence was deferred for six months and he was placed under parole supervision. He had prior convictions for assault and robbery.
Dobrindt said Germany would raise its threat level following the attack. Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the scene and later spoke at a church service, vowing to defend freedom and openness, stating that extremists have no place in society.
Berlin police reported that victims were hit on Ahornsteig street, a path through the wooded area of Tiergarten park. German media said the injured are no longer in life-threatening condition.
The attack occurred during Christopher Street Day, one of Europe's largest Pride events. A planned cleanup and breakfast market were cancelled. Later, an impromptu vigil took place at the Brandenburg Gate, where speakers condemned extremism and criticised government budget cuts for queer organisations.
Armin Duenhoelter, a drag artist from Wolfsburg who was backstage during the attack, told AFP he was still shocked but vowed to return next year: "We won't let it beat us down."
