Berlin Pride van and knife rampage an ‘Islamist terrorist attack’, say German authorities | Germany
German authorities say the fatal minibus crash and stabbing near Berlin’s Pride festival was an Islamist terrorist attack, and efforts are continuing to find the main suspect.
One person died and 29 people were injured when a man drove a minivan into pedestrians and then stabbed people with a machete-like object. The attack took place in the Tiergarten park near the Brandenburg Gate at around 22:00 local time on Saturday, close to one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations.
German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said the prime suspect was 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, who was thought to have used a machete to attack people, causing life-threatening injuries to some victims. “Everything we see here shows that we are facing an Islamist terrorist attack,” Dobrindt said.
“Here we are faced with a suspected perpetrator who has attracted attention due to his numerous previous criminal offenses, radicalization and connection with the Islamist circle,” Dobrindt said at a press conference near the scene of the attack. He said that Ballout had a criminal record and was sentenced to 1 year and 10 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended.
German media reported that Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese origin, was a supporter of ISIS and traveled to the Middle East last year in an unsuccessful attempt to join the group. He was later convicted in Germany of “preparing a serious act of subversive violence”, Bild and Spiegel newspapers reported.
Police and prosecutors asked for help finding Ballout but warned the public to avoid “direct contact” with him, saying he could be armed and dangerous.
Police described Ballout as thin, about 1.90 meters (6 ft 3 in) tall, with black hair, and wearing a black hoodie and white pants.
Police searched an apartment in Berlin’s Schöneberg district early Sunday but said they found no one there.
Following the attack, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Germany to avoid division and intimidation. “We will think about the consequences, we will defend our freedom,” he said at a press conference.
Earlier, Merz had described the “disgusting act” in a social media post as “an attack on our society” and promised to punish those responsible. The flag in the German Bundestag was ordered to be flown at half-staff.
The attack forced organizers to cut short one of Europe’s biggest Pride events and comes as Germany remains on edge following a series of deadly vehicular and knife attacks.
Many details remained unclear hours after the attack, but police said the vehicle hit multiple people after entering the Tiergarten near the Brandenburg Gate. The police said that “there were also life-threatening injuries” among the injured.
Police said the driver of the white minivan swerved, hitting people on the road and crashing into a tree shortly before 10 p.m., near where the Pride route had been earlier in the day.
“[The vehicle] Police said “it was vacant, so we are currently working hard to find the perpetrator or perpetrators.” Tabloid newspaper Bild quoted a witness as saying a man got out of the vehicle and fled on foot.
A hunt was underway in the capital on Sunday, involving helicopters and police officers from several German states.
Emergency officials set up a helicopter landing pad near the Reichstag parliament building to transport the injured to hospitals.
Julian Methig, who attended the event, described it as a terrible day. “This is one of the worst days for the gay community and one that I personally hoped I would never have to live through… I am shocked.”
Hundreds of thousands of people had gathered in Germany’s capital to celebrate the pride parade under the hot summer sun.
Known as Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Germany, it takes its name from where riots against police raids of the Stonewall Inn in New York City galvanized the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. CSD was first held in West Berlin in 1979.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner called the deadly attack “an attack on our free and cosmopolitan society.”
“Following a peaceful and colorful CSD, the rally for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal manner,” he said on X. “Berlin is the city of freedom – and our freedom has today been attacked in the most appalling way. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends.”
For the first time in its history, CSD started this year with a pro-democracy political rally on Friday night. State elections will be held in Berlin in September.
Saturday’s parade took place under the slogan “it’s hot to take a stand”, which organizers said was “in response to growing hostility” towards gay people in Germany.
More than 80 vehicles and 50 pedestrian groups took part in the march through the city centre, passing Potsdamer Platz and the Victory Column monument in the Tiergarten, culminating in a rally at the Brandenburg Gate.
Earlier in the day, a man was arrested for resisting police orders at a far-right counter protest.
Before last year’s parade, Berlin LGBTQ+ organizations had raised alarm that attacks were becoming more frequent at a time when hard-won rights were under threat. Campaigners said the increase in hostility was accompanied by rising support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party, which is now the most popular party in national opinion polls, as well as a rise in Islamist-inspired attacks.
European leaders, including heads of government in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden, offered solidarity. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote of X: “Italy unequivocally condemns and opposes all forms of hatred and extremism” and added: “We stand with Germany and the German people.” French President Emmanuel Macron said: “Our response to hatred and violence will always be unity, freedom and determination.”
Merz’s ally, German centre-right politician European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her deepest condolences to the victims of the attack, describing the CSD parade as representing “the fundamental values of the EU: freedom, dignity and equality”.
British foreign secretary Ed Miliband said he was “horrified by the horrific attack in Berlin” and joined his counterpart Johann Wadephul in saying: “To convey the UK’s solidarity: We stand with Germany.”
Far-right leaders were also quick to comment on the attacks. Tino Chrupalla, co-leader of Alternative für Deutschland, wrote about X: “We will not allow religious extremists to divide our country with violence and intolerance!”
Jordan Bardella, president of the French National Convention, wrote: “The Islamist threat remains a major problem in Europe and continues to target the thing they hate most in our civilization – and the thing we hold dear – freedom.”
