German police shot dead the suspect in the Berlin Pride attack after locating him during a large-scale manhunt in the Spandau district. Authorities said the man charged officers with a weapon, ending a search that began after a deadly van attack near Christopher Street Day celebrations left one person dead and dozens injured.
Berlin Pride attack suspect found after nationwide search
German authorities ended a nationwide manhunt on Sunday after locating the suspect wanted in connection with the deadly attack near Berlin's Christopher Street Day celebrations. According to Berlin's Senate Department for Interior Affairs and Berlin Police, officers tracked the suspect to a garden allotment in the Spandau district, where an operation involving the elite SEK police unit was launched.
Police said the suspect charged officers while carrying a stabbing weapon, prompting them to open fire. Firefighters attempted to revive him at the scene, but he later died from his injuries. Authorities identified the suspect as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout.
The operation concluded a search that had continued since Saturday night following a van attack that killed one person and injured 29 others near one of Europe's largest LGBTQ Pride celebrations.
German authorities detail suspect's background
German prosecutors said the suspect was a German citizen of Lebanese descent who had previously come to the attention of security agencies because of suspected Islamist extremism. Officials stated he had earlier attempted to travel through Turkey before reaching Lebanon, where authorities alleged he was trying to continue to Syria to join ISIS.
According to prosecutors, he was sentenced by a Lebanese military court on charges that included inciting religious and sectarian conflict. He later returned to Germany in November 2025 and was arrested at Berlin International Airport.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the suspect had previously been linked to criminal offences, radicalisation and extremist networks. Authorities also stated that he had earlier been convicted in Germany for preparing a serious act of violence after an unsuccessful attempt to travel to the Middle East.
Investigation focuses on attack near CSD celebrations
Investigators said the suspect allegedly drove a rented minivan into pedestrians near Berlin's Tiergarten park, close to the Brandenburg Gate, before reportedly attacking several people with a bladed weapon believed to be a machete and fleeing the scene.
Emergency crews responded quickly after the vehicle came to rest against a tree. Berlin's fire service reported that three victims remained in critical condition, while dozens of others suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Authorities said the attack occurred during the closing events of Berlin's annual Christopher Street Day celebrations, one of Europe's largest LGBTQ Pride gatherings that attracts thousands of participants and visitors every year.
Security concerns remain under investigation
Security officials said the suspect had been released from juvenile detention only two months earlier and was known to Germany's domestic intelligence services. Authorities classified him among individuals considered potentially dangerous because of concerns about extremist activities.
The investigation is now focused on reconstructing the timeline leading up to the attack, examining whether the suspect acted alone and determining whether any additional individuals provided support before or after the incident.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the public to remain united following the attack, saying violence should not weaken Germany's democratic values. Authorities have also increased security around public gatherings while investigators continue collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
The Berlin Pride attack has renewed debate over public safety, counterterrorism policies and event security in Germany. Officials have indicated that the investigation remains active and additional information will be released as forensic examinations and intelligence reviews continue.
