Berlin Pride attacker killed by police after shootout

The suspected perpetrator of a deadly attack at Berlin's Gay Pride celebration has been killed by police following a shootout in a garden shed in the Spandau district.

Abdul Ballout, 21, was identified as the man who drove a white minivan into a crowd in Tiergarten park on Saturday evening. The attack killed one woman and left 29 people injured, though authorities stated no one's life was in immediate danger. Ballout reportedly fled the vehicle after it crashed into a tree and then engaged police in a firefight.

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We don't know if there were accomplices or people who supported him.

Ballout, who had recently been released from a juvenile detention center in May, was known to authorities and allegedly linked to "Islamist circles," according to Bild newspaper, which cited law enforcement sources. Police had previously searched an apartment in Schoeneberg but found it empty. Ballout is also reported to be a supporter of the Islamic State.

Berlin police spokesperson Florian Nath stated that the investigation is ongoing, and it remains unclear if the suspect had accomplices or received support. Over a thousand police officers have been involved in the case since Saturday night. While police have questioned three individuals close to the suspect, only one remains in custody after 48 hours, pending concrete evidence of wrongdoing.

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We must attribute concrete indications of criminal offenses to these people. If we are unable to do so, these people will have to be released when the 48 hours expire.