German authorities are searching for Abdul Ballout, a German citizen with Lebanese roots, who is suspected of driving a van into a crowd near Berlin's Pride festival on July 25, 2026, resulting in one death and numerous injuries. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the incident is being treated as a potential Islamic extremist terror attack. Dobrindt reported that 29 individuals were injured, with three in life-threatening condition and eight seriously injured.
The attack occurred around 10 p.m. in Tiergarten park, a few hundred meters from the closing party of the Pride festival, which was taking place next to the Brandenburg Gate. The van struck several people before colliding with a tree. The police conducted searches in Berlin, including an apartment in the Schöneberg district, but did not locate the suspect.
Dobrindt noted that Ballout had a history of previous crimes and had been previously flagged for radicalization. The Pride event was called off shortly after the attack, and attendees were advised to leave the area. Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of maintaining openness and freedom in society, stating that such acts aim to divide. Security measures at other major events in Germany are expected to be reviewed in response to the attack.
This incident follows previous Islamic extremist attacks in Berlin, including the 2016 Christmas market attack and a stabbing at the Holocaust Memorial last year.