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Berlin police shoot dead main suspect in Pride attack
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Berlin police shoot dead main suspect in Pride attack

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement Outcome reported
  • Berlin police shot dead Abdul Ballout, the main suspect in an Islamist attack that killed one and injured 29 during the city's Pride event.
  • Ballout was located in a Spandau allotment garden and reportedly advanced on officers with a stabbing weapon, leading to the fatal shooting.
  • German authorities are investigating potential accomplices, with several individuals arrested for questioning.

Berlin police Special Forces fatally shot Abdul Ballout, the primary suspect in a suspected Islamist attack that killed one person and injured 29 during the city's LGBTQ Pride celebration. Ballout, a 21-year-old German national, was found in a garden plot in the Spandau district on Sunday evening.

The suspect ran toward our officers with a stabbing weapon. For that reason, the service weapon was used.

— Florian NathBerlin police spokesperson explaining the circumstances of Abdul Ballout's death.

According to police spokesperson Florian Nath, the suspect ran towards officers with a stabbing weapon, prompting them to use their service weapons. Despite resuscitation efforts, Ballout died at the scene. German authorities located him less than 24 hours after the attack in the Tiergarten park, following a large police deployment.

Berlin's mayor, Kai Wegner, hailed the swift apprehension as a significant success for the investigative authorities. Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously vowed that the government would do everything possible to apprehend those responsible for Saturday's attack, promising decisive action.

The suspect suffered injuries so severe that, although he could be resuscitated by emergency doctors, he died at the scene.

— Florian NathBerlin police spokesperson describing the outcome of the shooting of Abdul Ballout.

While Ballout is believed to be the main perpetrator, authorities have not ruled out the possibility of accomplices. Several associates have been arrested and are being interrogated, though clear evidence implicating them is reportedly lacking. The attack, which involved a van plowing into a crowd, initially left three injured in critical condition, but their lives are no longer in danger, though they remain in intensive care.

The fact that the Berlin Police apprehended the suspect in less than 24 hours is a great success for the investigative authorities.

— Kai WegnerMayor of Berlin commenting on the swift apprehension of the suspect.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had previously characterized the attack as "Islamist," citing evidence pointing towards the main suspect. Ballout had a criminal record, including convictions for assault and violent extortion between 2019 and 2022. He was also convicted in May for preparing a serious act against state security and distributing propaganda.

We will do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrator or perpetrators, we will consider consequences and we will decide with determination.

— Friedrich MerzGerman Chancellor promising action after the attack.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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