Berlin police confirmed that the suspect in yesterday's Pride attack, Abdul Ballout, died after officers fired at him at an allotment garden complex in Spandau. The van ramming and stabbing near the pride festival left one woman dead and many others injured.
Suspect Killed in Police Operation
Authorities located Ballout at an allotment garden facility in Spandau, west Berlin, at 6pm local time. According to Berlin Police, he "rushed toward our emergency forces with a stabbing weapon, after which police firearms were used by our SEK Berlin." A spokesperson added: "Despite immediate resuscitation measures initiated by the Berlin Fire Department, he died at the scene."
Attack Details
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Sunday that the attack is believed to have been an Islamic extremist terror attack. According to police, a white van drove into Tiergarten park at about 10pm, hitting several people before colliding with a tree. The closing party of the Christopher Street Day festival was ongoing near the Brandenburg Gate, a short distance away, after a parade with 80 floats had passed through Berlin earlier in the day.
Berlin's fire service reported three people with life-threatening injuries, eight seriously injured, and five with slight injuries. The event at the Brandenburg Gate was called off at about 10.15pm, interrupting a band's performance. People were urged to go home and avoid the park route.
Police Presence and Reactions
More than 2,200 officers had been on duty across Berlin since Saturday morning to safeguard the pride parade and associated LGBT+ events. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner voiced his horror, saying: "Following a peaceful and vibrant pride parade, the rally for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal manner. This is an attack on our free and cosmopolitan society. I have confidence in the police and security authorities, who will be working around the clock to investigate."
Suspect's Background
Authorities appealed for potential witnesses to come forward with any footage or photographs. The suspect had a previous criminal record: in February 2022 he was convicted by a juvenile court for assault and robbery, stemming from an assault in September 2019 and a robbery of a pair of headphones in October 2020. He was a German citizen born and raised in Berlin with a Lebanese family background.
