The man suspected of carrying out the deadly attack near Berlin’s Pride celebrations was shot and killed by police Sunday after a nearly 24 hour manhunt, bringing an end to the search for the alleged attacker accused of killing one person and injuring 29 others.
German authorities identified the suspect as Abdul Ballout, a 21 year old German citizen of Lebanese descent. Officials said he died after confronting officers with a bladed weapon during an operation in Berlin’s Spandau district.
Police said officers opened fire after Ballout charged toward them while armed. Emergency responders attempted to revive him, but he died at the scene.
Authorities believe Ballout drove a van into a crowd near the Christopher Street Day Pride celebrations on Saturday night before attacking additional victims with a machete.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said investigators believe the attack was motivated by Islamic extremism.
“Everything we see here points to us dealing with an Islamic terror attack,” Dobrindt said.
What we know so far
The attack unfolded around 10 p.m. Saturday near Tiergarten Park, a short distance from the Pride festival’s closing celebration at the Brandenburg Gate.
Police said a white van struck pedestrians before crashing into a tree. Investigators believe the suspect then left the vehicle and assaulted several people with a machete.
One woman was killed.
Authorities said 29 other people suffered injuries ranging from minor to life threatening.
The violence occurred several hundred yards from the festival itself, where thousands had gathered following Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day parade.
Police launched a citywide search involving hundreds of officers before locating Ballout Sunday evening.
According to Berlin Police, officers encountered the suspect inside an allotment garden complex in the Spandau suburb.
Police said Ballout rushed toward officers carrying a stabbing weapon, prompting them to open fire.
Authorities reveal suspect’s extremist background
Berlin prosecutors said Ballout had previously attempted to join the Islamic State group.
Investigators said he traveled to Lebanon in 2025 intending to cross into Syria, where he allegedly sought contact with members of the extremist organization.
Lebanese authorities arrested him and sentenced him to three months in prison on charges including inciting religious and sectarian conflict.
After completing that sentence, Ballout returned to Germany, where he was arrested upon arrival at Berlin Airport.
In May, a Berlin juvenile court convicted him of preparing a serious act of violence threatening state security and publishing Islamic State propaganda through social media.
He received a suspended sentence of one year and ten months.
The court cited his time already spent in detention, his confession and what judges described as signs that he had distanced himself from extremist ideology.
Berlin prosecutors appealed that sentence, and Ballout remained free while the appeal was pending.
Community mourns victims
Hundreds of mourners gathered Sunday near the Brandenburg Gate to honor the victims.
Flowers, candles, rainbow flags and handwritten messages covered the memorial site.
One sign read: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
Ashley Jump, who traveled from the United Kingdom to attend Berlin Pride, returned to leave flowers after learning of the attack.
“They will never erase us,” Jump said. “As long as humanity exists, we will exist.”
Andre Lehmann, an official with Germany’s LGBTQ+ advocacy organization LSVD+, described the attack as a devastating blow to the community.
“We are simply stunned by what happened,” he said.
What authorities are saying
Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed Germany would not allow violence to undermine its democratic values.
“I would like to say this to Christopher Street Day participants here in Berlin and across Germany: Do not let yourselves be intimidated,” Merz said.
“These acts seek to divide our society and take away our openness and freedom.”
Interior Minister Dobrindt said security arrangements for upcoming Pride celebrations and other major public events across Germany will be reviewed and strengthened where necessary.
Amsterdam, which is preparing to host World Pride later this week, said officials are closely monitoring developments following the Berlin attack.
Mayor Femke Halsema said organizers intend to maintain celebrations while ensuring public safety.
Why this matters
The attack has renewed concerns about extremist violence targeting public gatherings in Germany.
Berlin has experienced several high profile attacks linked to extremist ideology over the past decade, including the 2016 Christmas market truck attack that killed 13 people and a 2024 stabbing at the city’s Holocaust Memorial.
The latest attack also raises fresh questions about monitoring convicted extremists released while legal proceedings remain ongoing.
Security experts say the incident is likely to prompt renewed debate over intelligence sharing, surveillance powers and protection for major public events across Europe.
What happens next
German prosecutors are continuing to investigate the attack to determine whether Ballout acted alone or received assistance before carrying out the assault.
Authorities will also examine how the suspect was able to remain free after his earlier conviction while prosecutors pursued an appeal.
Police are expected to review evidence recovered from the van and the attack scene as part of the ongoing terrorism investigation.
