BERLIN (AP) - In a shocking event during Berlin's Pride festival, a suspect involved in a deadly attack was shot and killed by police following a nearly 24-hour search. The incident, which occurred on Saturday night, left one woman dead and 29 others injured. Authorities have classified the attack as an Islamic extremist terror act.
The suspect, identified as Abdul Ballout, a 23-year-old German citizen of Lebanese descent, had previously attempted to join the militant Islamic State group. He was suspected of using a van to ram into a crowd near the Pride festival before allegedly attacking individuals with a machete.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed that all evidence suggests the attack was motivated by Islamic extremism. The tragic incident took place just a few hundred meters from a closing party near the iconic Brandenburg Gate, which was part of the larger Pride celebration that day.
Ballout, born in Germany, had a history of ties to Islamic extremism. He traveled to Lebanon with intentions of reaching Syria to join ISIS in 2025. During his time there, he allegedly made contacts with individuals he believed to be associated with the militant group and was arrested in Lebanon the following year for inciting religious conflict. He was sentenced to three months in a military prison before returning to Germany.
After his return, Ballout was detained again and in May, a juvenile court found him guilty of preparing serious acts of violence and disseminating Islamic State propaganda via social media. However, he received a suspended sentence of one year and ten months in youth custody. Berlin prosecutors have appealed this ruling, contending that his prior detentions and his apparent remorse should not warrant his release.
On the evening of the attack, a white van plowed into a crowd in Tiergarten park, causing chaos and fear among festival-goers. The closing party at the Pride festival had already commenced nearby, and many attendees were mingling in the area. The police later confirmed that the van collided with a tree after hitting several individuals, with the fatality being a local woman.
In the aftermath of the attack, hundreds of mourners gathered at a memorial near the Brandenburg Gate, creating an emotional scene filled with flowers, candles, and messages of solidarity. Ashley Jump, a 26-year-old from the U.K. who attended the Pride parade earlier, expressed her grief and support for the LGBTQ+ community, stating, “They’ll never erase us, we’ll never be gone.”
Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of not allowing such violent acts to intimidate the community, urging unity and resilience. He pointed out that these attacks aim to divide society and undermine its fundamental values of freedom and openness. Dobrindt announced that security measures would be reviewed and potentially tightened at other major events across Germany in light of the incident.
Berlin has experienced similar extremist attacks in the past, raising concerns about public safety during events like Pride. In December 2016, a terrorist attack at a Christmas market claimed the lives of 13 people. This recent tragedy has prompted other cities, including Amsterdam, to evaluate their security protocols as they prepare for their own Pride celebrations. Amsterdam’s Mayor Femke Halsema reassured that authorities are monitoring the situation closely while striving to maintain the celebratory spirit of freedom and love.
