The man suspected of carrying out a deadly attack at Berlin Pride has been shot and killed by police. Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen, was killed in Spandau, a western borough of Berlin, on Sunday afternoon when he allegedly rushed at officers with a knife. The incident concluded a large-scale manhunt that began after a white van was driven into a crowd near Tiergarten park on Saturday evening.

Authorities are treating the incident as a likely Islamist terror attack. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that evidence pointed towards this conclusion, noting the suspect had previously attracted attention for criminal offenses, radicalization, and ties to the Islamist scene. The attack shattered the celebratory atmosphere of Berlin's Christopher Street Day, a major Pride event attended by hundreds of thousands.

The Berlin public prosecutor's office revealed that Ballout had a significant criminal history. In May 2025, he reportedly traveled to Lebanon with the intent of joining the Islamic State group in Syria. While in Lebanon, he allegedly made contact with individuals believed to be IS members. He was arrested there in July 2025 and served a three-month sentence for inciting religious and sectarian conflict.

Upon his return to Germany in November 2025, Ballout was arrested at Berlin Brandenburg Airport and held in pre-trial detention. In May of this year, he received a sentence of one year and 10 months for preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state, with the sentence deferred for six months and placed under parole supervision. His prior convictions include assault and robbery in 2022, and a robbery in 2020.

Following the attack, Interior Minister Dobrindt announced that Germany's national threat level would be raised. Other countries are also being informed and advised to review security measures for major events. Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the attack site on Sunday and pledged to defend the nation's freedom and openness, stating that extremists have no place in German society.

Police confirmed that people were struck on Ahornsteig street in Tiergarten park. German media reports indicate that the individuals injured in the attack are no longer in life-threatening condition. The van ramming was followed by a stabbing attack, according to police, although further details on the sequence of events remain under investigation.

The attack occurred just before 22:00 local time on Saturday. One woman was killed, and at least 29 others were injured in the incident, which occurred during one of Europe's largest Pride celebrations. The violence cast a somber shadow over the annual event.

Questions remain about the full extent of any potential network involved in the attack and the effectiveness of the surveillance measures in place for individuals with known radical affiliations. The investigation is ongoing.