The suspect in the Berlin Pride attack, which resulted in one death and 29 injuries, was shot and killed by police during a confrontation in a suburb of Berlin on Sunday. Authorities identified the suspect as Abdul Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese descent, who was killed following a nearly 24-hour search after the attack on Saturday night. Prosecutors indicated that Ballout had previously attempted to join the militant Islamic State group.
The attack occurred near the Brandenburg Gate, where a closing party for the Pride festival was taking place. Ballout allegedly drove a van into a crowd before using a machete to stab others, an act that authorities are treating as an Islamic extremist terror attack.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that Ballout was located around 6 p.m. on Sunday in Spandau, where he reportedly approached officers with a sharp object, prompting police to fire at him. He died at the scene.
Ballout was born in Germany, and his mother became a naturalized citizen in 2002. He had previously traveled to Lebanon in 2025 with intentions to join the Islamic State and was arrested there last year, receiving a three-month sentence for incitement to conflict. After returning to Germany, he was arrested at the Berlin airport.
In May, a juvenile court convicted Ballout of preparing a serious act of violence and for publishing Islamic State propaganda, resulting in a suspended sentence of 1 year and 10 months in youth custody. He had been released pending an appeal.
The attack took place in Tiergarten park, where a van struck several individuals before crashing into a tree. The incident did not occur directly at the festival but nearby, affecting a mix of festivalgoers and local residents. A woman was confirmed dead from the incident.
In response to the attack, hundreds gathered at a memorial near the Brandenburg Gate, laying flowers and candles in remembrance. Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged unity in the face of such violence, emphasizing the importance of openness and freedom in society. Security measures for future events are expected to be reviewed and potentially increased.