Berlin Pride attack suspect shot dead by police after nationwide manhunt

A nationwide manhunt was launched for Abdul Ballout after he drove a van into a crowd and stabbed multiple people near one of Europe's largest LGBTQ Pride celebrations before fleeing. The attack left one woman dead and at least 29 others injured.

In Short

• Abdul Ballout, 21, shot dead by police after attacking them in Berlin
• He drove a minivan into crowds at Christopher Street Day, killing one
• Pride organisers urged calm, warning against political exploitation of the attack

Abdul Ballout, the 21-year-old man who drove a minivan into crowds near Berlin's Christopher Street Day (CSD) celebrations, was shot dead by police on Sunday. Officers opened fire after he charged at them with a weapon during an operation in the city's Spandau district.

Berlin Police said officers located Abdul Ballout at around 6 pm (local time) in an allotment garden complex in Spandau. According to authorities, he rushed towards members of the elite SEK unit with a stabbing weapon, prompting police to open fire. Despite immediate resuscitation efforts by the Berlin Fire Department, he died at the scene.

Abdul Ballout had been the focus of a nationwide manhunt since Saturday night after driving a minivan into crowds near one of Europe's largest LGBTQ Pride celebrations before fleeing. The attack killed one person and injured 29 others. German authorities had earlier identified him as a German citizen of Lebanese descent and a known Islamist extremist. He had previously been convicted of "preparing a serious act of violence" after a failed attempt to travel to the Middle East to join ISIS.

SUSPECT KILLED AFTER CITYWIDE MANHUNT

German authorities had launched an extensive search operation after the attack unfolded near Berlin's Tiergarten park, close to the Brandenburg Gate, at around 10 pm (local time) on Saturday.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had earlier said investigators believed the incident was an act of Islamist terrorism.

"Everything we see here indicates that we are dealing with an Islamist terrorist attack," Dobrindt told reporters.

He said the suspect was a 21-year-old German citizen of Lebanese heritage who had previously come to the attention of authorities due to repeated criminal offences, radicalisation and links to the Islamist scene.

Police identified him as Abdul B and released his photograph while urging the public not to approach him.

Security sources told Reuters that the suspect had been released from juvenile detention only two months ago. He was also known to Germany's domestic intelligence services and was among hundreds of individuals classified as potentially dangerous because of concerns over extremist activities. Authorities said the attacker not only drove the rented van into pedestrians but also assaulted several people with a bladed weapon believed to be a machete before fleeing.

Investigators were also examining whether he acted alone. Police had earlier said more than one person may have exited the vehicle after the crash, while broadcaster RBB reported that an Iranian passenger had been taken into custody.

The attack happened on the sidelines of Berlin's annual Christopher Street Day celebrations, one of Europe's biggest LGBTQ Pride events, where thousands had gathered for the closing festivities.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene after the van crashed into a crowd before coming to a stop against a tree. The Berlin fire service said three of the injured remained in life-threatening condition, while dozens of others sustained injuries of varying severity. Television footage from the scene showed the badly damaged white delivery van lodged against a tree in Tiergarten park.

THOUSANDS GATHER TO MOURN

As investigators continued their work, thousands of Berlin residents gathered at the Brandenburg Gate to mourn the victims. Many carried rainbow flags, laid flowers and lit candles in memory of those affected. Others embraced one another in silence, while placards reading "Hatred kills" reflected the grief and anger felt across the city.

Ahead of a memorial service at St Mary's Church, Chancellor Friedrich Merz appealed for unity and urged Germans not to allow violence to undermine the country's democratic values.

"We will defend the freedom, openness, and liberal spirit of our lives and our society with everything we can do," he said.

PRIDE ORGANISERS URGE CALM

Organisers of Berlin's Christopher Street Day also appealed for restraint as investigations continued.

The CSD Association warned against drawing premature conclusions or allowing the attack to be used to deepen political divisions.

"We don't want this act to be exploited for political purposes or for people to be placed under general suspicion," a spokesperson told journalists in Berlin.

"Such violence is an attempt to divide our society."

Their appeal came as political leaders and parties began reacting to the attack, which occurred at a politically sensitive time for Germany.

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