Berlin Pride terror probe: Suspect with alleged ISIS links killed in police encounter

Berlin: A suspect accused of carrying out a deadly attack near Berlin’s Pride celebrations was killed by police during a confrontation in a suburb of the German capital on Sunday, authorities said.

The suspect, identified as Abdul Ballout, a German citizen with Lebanese roots, was killed after police launched a major search operation following the attack. Berlin prosecutors said Ballout had previously attempted to join the Islamic State group.

German officials said the incident was being investigated as a suspected Islamic extremist terror attack. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that the available evidence pointed towards an extremist motive.

Attack near Berlin Pride festival

The attack took place on Saturday night near the Tiergarten park area, a few hundred metres from the closing event of Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride festival near the Brandenburg Gate.

According to police, a white van drove into a crowd around 10 pm, hitting several people before crashing into a tree. Authorities said the attacker also appeared to have used a machete during the incident.

One woman was killed, while 29 others were injured.

The attack did not take place directly at the Pride festival or on the official parade route, but occurred nearby as celebrations were continuing in central Berlin.

Suspect’s alleged extremist links

Berlin prosecutors said Ballout had travelled to Lebanon in 2025 with the intention of reaching Syria to join the Islamic State group.

Authorities said he had made contact with individuals believed to be linked to the militant organisation. He was arrested in Lebanon and later returned to Germany after serving a short sentence there.

In May, a Berlin juvenile court convicted Ballout of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state and distributing Islamic State propaganda online. He received a suspended youth custody sentence, with prosecutors appealing the decision.

The court had considered factors including his confession and his claim that he had distanced himself from the extremist group.

Germany reviews security measures

Following the attack, German authorities announced that security arrangements for major public events, including Pride celebrations, would be reviewed.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the violence and said such attacks were aimed at creating fear and division in society.

Mourners gathered near the Brandenburg Gate on Sunday, placing flowers, candles and rainbow flags in memory of the victim.

Berlin has previously witnessed extremist attacks, including the 2016 Christmas market attack in which a truck was driven into a crowd, killing 13 people.

The latest incident has renewed debate in Germany over extremist threats, event security and the challenges faced by authorities in monitoring individuals suspected of radicalisation.

With AP inputs