One woman was killed and at least 29 others were injured after a van was driven into a crowd at a Berlin Pride event on Saturday night, an incident German officials are treating as a likely Islamist terror attack. The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, was shot and killed by police during an operation in west Berlin on Sunday.

The attack occurred around 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT) when a white vehicle drove into the gathered crowds at a Christopher Street Day event in Tiergarten park, near the Brandenburg Gate. Hundreds of thousands of people had assembled for the annual celebration. In addition to the vehicle impact, some individuals were also reportedly stabbed, with authorities suggesting a bladed weapon, possibly a machete, was used.

Following the incident, the Pride event was abruptly cancelled. Organizers took to the stage to advise the crowd to evacuate, with the word "evacuation" projected onto a large screen. Unverified footage circulating on social media depicted large numbers of people leaving the scene amidst the arrival of emergency services. By approximately 01:00 local time on Sunday, police confirmed one fatality and numerous injuries.

The vehicle, believed to have been rented, was later found crashed into a tree. By 03:30, police announced they had identified a suspect with alleged Islamist links. A city-wide manhunt ensued, involving thousands of officers from Berlin and surrounding German states. The suspect was eventually located at an allotment complex in Spandau, where he was shot dead after allegedly lunging at officers with a knife.

Abdul Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese background, was known to police for previous offenses and had a prison sentence commuted to parole. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the suspect had become radicalized. German media reports suggest he was a supporter of the Islamic State group (IS) and had made prior, unsuccessful attempts to join the organization.

According to the public prosecutor's office, Ballout had attempted to travel to Mauritania via Turkey in May 2025, but failed. He subsequently traveled to Lebanon via Turkey with the stated intention of reaching Syria and joining IS. While in Lebanon, he allegedly made contact with individuals he believed were IS members and was arrested there in July 2025, serving three months in prison before his release.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the event as a "heinous attack." The incident has raised significant security concerns, particularly given the large public gathering. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of any network or planning behind the attack.

Authorities are continuing to gather evidence and analyze the suspect's digital footprint and communications to understand the motivations and potential accomplices. The focus remains on supporting the victims and their families, while also reviewing security protocols for large public events in Germany.