Summary
One woman has been killed and at least 29 people injured after a van was driven into crowds at Berlin Pride on Saturday night. Police say the incident is likely an Islamist-motivated attack and have launched a large-scale manhunt for a suspect. German leaders have condemned the violence and investigators are asking the public for information.
What happened
The incident took place at about 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT) during Christopher Street Day celebrations in Tiergarten park, near the Brandenburg Gate. Organisers had been staging performances and thousands of people were in the area when reports came in that a white vehicle had been driven into a crowd on Ahornsteig, a long, wooded path through the park.
Witnesses and officials reported that some people were also stabbed, with at least one blade described as possibly a machete. Organisers abruptly ended the event and directed attendees to leave; the word evacuation was projected on a screen as people dispersed and emergency services arrived.
Casualties and vehicle
Police confirmed at around 01:00 that one woman had been killed and dozens injured. Authorities later located the vehicle believed to have been used; it had crashed into a tree in the park. Officials say several people suffered wounds consistent with stabbing, in addition to injuries caused by the vehicle.
Suspect and police response
In the early hours, police said they had identified a suspect with Islamist links. The man named by authorities is 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese background. Police say he was known to them, had a criminal record and had previously received a prison sentence that was later commuted to parole.
Interior Ministry officials have said Ballout had been radicalised. German media report he is a supporter of the Islamic State group and had sought to join it in the past. Reports say he travelled to Lebanon in 2025, was arrested on return to Germany, spent time in pretrial detention until May 2026, and had been ordered to participate in a deradicalisation programme.
Police released an image and description and warned the public not to approach the suspect, who is believed to be armed and dangerous. At the time of the attack he was described as thin, around 6ft 2in, wearing a black hooded top and white trousers. Authorities have said one or more people may have left the vehicle, so additional suspects cannot be ruled out.
Manhunt and investigation
The search was expanded across the city and involved thousands of officers, including reinforcements from other German states. By Sunday, police were guarding an apartment block in the Tiergarten district that is said to be linked to the suspect. Investigators are treating the incident as a possible terror attack and are piecing together movements, vehicle forensics and witness accounts.
Location and context
The attack occurred during the annual Christopher Street Day parade and celebrations, a major LGBTQ+ event that moved through central Berlin before parts of the crowd gathered in Tiergarten. Ahornsteig, where people were struck, runs through a largely tree-covered section of the park between the Victory Column and the Brandenburg Gate.
Official reactions
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the incident as a heinous attack. European leaders expressed solidarity with Germany; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Pride event represents freedom, dignity and equality and offered sympathy to the victims. Other leaders, including the Dutch and Italian prime ministers and UK officials, also condemned the violence.
Appeal to witnesses and safety advice
Police have asked anyone with information or footage to come forward but urged the public not to try to detain or confront the suspect. If you attended the event and it is safe to do so, consider contacting local authorities or providing information to investigators through official police channels.
What may change next
Investigations are ongoing to clarify motive, establish whether others were involved, and confirm the full number and nature of injuries. For now, authorities continue the search and forensic work at the scene while leaning on public tips and media appeals to gather further evidence.
