Berlin vehicle attack suspect killed by police during arrest

German police fatally shot a suspect in Berlin during an operation to arrest him in connection with a deadly vehicle attack. The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Abdul Walut, was killed in the Spandau district on Thursday afternoon.

Walut is accused of driving a white Citroën van into a crowd on Wednesday evening near the Tiergarten park. The attack resulted in one fatality and 29 injuries. The incident occurred close to the Christopher Street Day (CSD) LGBTQ+ Pride parade route, with a concert taking place just 500 meters away at the Brandenburg Gate.

Authorities have classified the incident as an act of Islamist extremism. Investigations revealed that Walut, a German national of Lebanese descent, had previously attempted to join the Islamic State (IS) group. He was briefly imprisoned in Lebanon last year and was released on probation in May after being arrested again upon his return to Germany in November. The case has been transferred to the Federal Prosecutor's Office for further investigation into the exact circumstances and potential accomplices.

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The suspect is believed to have charged at the emergency response police officers with a weapon, leading the Berlin police special operations unit to use their firearms.