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๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง Lebanon /Crime & Justice

Berlin Pride attacker killed by police after ramming crowd, injuring 29

From Naharnet · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • German police shot and killed a 21-year-old suspect in a deadly Islamist attack near the Berlin Pride parade.
  • The suspect, a German citizen of Lebanese origin, injured 29 people with a bladed weapon after ramming a minivan into a crowd.
  • Officials described the attack as Islamist terror, noting the suspect's history of radicalization and previous convictions.

A deadly Islamist attack shattered the celebratory atmosphere of Berlin's Pride parade Saturday night, as a 21-year-old suspect rammed a minivan into a crowd and then attacked people with a bladed weapon, killing one woman and injuring 29 others.

ran towards them with a bladed weapon

โ€” Berlin policeDescribing the final moments before officers shot the suspect.

German police tracked the suspect, identified as Abdul Ballout, to an allotment complex in the Spandau district on Sunday. Officers opened fire when Ballout ran towards them with a bladed weapon, killing him at the scene despite resuscitation attempts. Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese origin, was a supporter of the Islamic State group and had several criminal convictions, including for bodily harm, extortion, and robbery.

Prosecutors revealed Ballout had shared IS propaganda online and traveled to Lebanon in 2015 to fight for the militia in Syria. He was arrested and sentenced to three months in prison in Lebanon. Upon his return to Germany in November, he was arrested and held until his May conviction for "preparing a serious act of subversive violence." His sentence of one year and ten months was suspended, partly due to time served and his admission of guilt.

Everything we see here indicates that this was an Islamist terror attack

โ€” Alexander DobrindtInterior Minister's assessment of the attack.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that Ballout was suspected of using a machete after the initial minivan ramming. While 29 people were injured, none were in life-threatening condition as of Sunday evening, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz appealed to those targeted to "not let yourselves be intimidated" during a memorial service.

not let yourselves be intimidated

โ€” Friedrich MerzGerman Chancellor's appeal to victims during a memorial service.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Naharnet in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.