The man accused of carrying out the deadly attack on Berlin Pride on Saturday has been shot and killed by police, as hundreds gathered in the German capital to remember the victims.
What should have been a celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility, community and resilience in the city became one of terror and devastation this weekend.
At around 10pm on Saturday, 21-year-old Abdul Ballout allegedly drove a white vehicle into a crowd of people in the popular Tiergarten Park during Christopher Street Day, Berlin’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebration.
One woman was killed and 29 others were injured in the attack. Ballout allegedly fled on foot after crashing into a tree. Reports also suggested that several people were stabbed during the incident.
Organisers cancelled the Pride festivities following the attack and instructed revellers to evacuate the area.
Police Shoot Suspect During Arrest Attempt
On Sunday, police tracked Ballout to the Spandau area of west Berlin and attempted to arrest him. Officers shot and killed him after he allegedly charged at them with a knife.
Authorities have described the attack as terror-related, alleging that Ballout supported the Islamic State (IS) group. A German citizen of Lebanese heritage, he also reportedly had a criminal record.
According to the BBC, he was arrested in Lebanon in 2025 and sentenced to three months in prison for incitement to religious and sectarian conflict. After returning to Germany, he was sentenced to one year and 10 months’ imprisonment for “preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state”, but had not yet started serving the sentence.
Berlin Mourns Victims of Pride Attack
On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, near the site of the attack, holding Pride flags and laying flowers in memory of the victims and in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
Flags also flew at half-mast at the German parliament.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the incident as a brutal “attack on our free and open society.”
He wrote on X: “Berlin is the city of freedom – and our freedom has been attacked in the most horrific way today. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the attack, adding that “Every person should be able to live, love, and stand up for their rights without fear.”
Global Pride Movement Condemns the Violence
InterPride, the international LGBTIQ+ Pride organisers’ network, said in a statement that it was heartbroken by the attack.
“Pride has always been a meaningful act of visibility, resistance, and hope. No one should have to fear for their safety simply for gathering in celebration of dignity, equality, and human rights,” the organisation said.
“Across every continent, our global Pride movement is united in grief, compassion, and resilience. We refuse to let violence diminish our shared commitment to freedom, inclusion, and love. Our community has always endured through solidarity, and we will continue to do so together. Our hearts are with Berlin. Today and always.”
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