A woman was killed and 16 people injured when a van ploughed into Berlin's Pride festival in what police suspect was a terrorist attack. A major manhunt is under way for the alleged driver, Abdul Ballout, 21.
Attack on Berlin Pride
The incident occurred around 10pm local time (9pm BST) on Saturday in Tiergarten park during the closing party of Christopher Street Day, the city's annual LGBTQ+ celebration. A white van drove into the park, struck several people, and hit a tree.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the attack as "an attack on our society." Several people were also stabbed, police said. Officers warned the public not to approach the suspect, who may be "armed and dangerous." Police said there was a "strong suspicion" the attack was an act of terrorism.
Victims and Injuries
One woman was killed, though she has not been named. Berlin's fire service said three people sustained life-threatening injuries, another eight were seriously injured, and five had minor injuries. The van remained at the scene with its crumpled bonnet against a tree.
Hundreds of thousands attended Berlin Pride. The closing party at the Brandenburg Gate was called off around 10.15pm. Organisers interrupted a performance to urge people to go home and avoid the park. Attendee Julian Miethig said, "It's a dark day for the community."
Suspect Identified as Abdul Ballout
Police named the suspect as Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen of Lebanese background born in Berlin in 2005. He was released from juvenile detention in May, according to German media.
Berlin police spokesperson Florian Nath said: "The suspect is known to police. He is known to us as a member of Islamic circles here in Berlin, and our search for this person is proceeding at full speed." He added that investigators had no information on "his specific motives."
Ongoing Manhunt
Ballout is described as slim, approximately 1.90 metres (6ft 3in) tall, with black hair, and was wearing a black hoodie and white trousers. Witnesses reported hearing a "dull bang" followed by screaming. One told CNN: "At first, we couldn't make out what the screams were, because of the party, the music, and the atmosphere. We only realised exactly what was going on when the police cleared the park with machine guns and asked us to go home."
Police urged anyone with information to come forward as the search for Ballout continued.
