BERLIN (AP) - Investigators have reportedly discovered a claim of responsibility linked to the 21-year-old suspect, Abdul Ballout, who was involved in a fatal assault near Berlin’s Pride festival. The incident, which occurred on a Sunday, involved Ballout driving a van into a crowd near the festival’s closing party, followed by an attack with a machete. This tragic event resulted in the death of a Polish woman and injured 31 others.
German authorities are currently examining a cellphone retrieved from the van. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt highlighted that investigators found a possible video in which a disguised individual is thought to be Ballout, announcing the intention to carry out an attack while pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. The existence of this video was confirmed by the German federal prosecutor’s office, with initial reports coming from the Bild newspaper.
In addition to the evidence from the cellphone, Dobrindt stated that authorities uncovered further material at an apartment associated with Ballout, which included “references” to IS. However, he refrained from providing additional details regarding these findings.
Berlin prosecutors discovered that Ballout, who was of Lebanese descent and born in Germany, had traveled to Lebanon in 2025 with intentions of joining IS in Syria, where he made contact with several individuals presumed to be affiliated with the terrorist organization. This background has raised questions about how he managed to move about freely despite his criminal history, including prior attempts to establish connections with IS.
Dobrindt emphasized that individuals identified as dangerous should not be granted suspended sentences. He expressed concern about applying juvenile law in such serious cases, as was done in Ballout's situation. He suggested the use of ankle bracelets to monitor their movements, while also noting that no system can guarantee “absolute security.” The tragic incident has ignited debates over public safety and the handling of individuals with extremist affiliations within the criminal justice system in Germany.
