Chief suspect in Berlin Pride attack shot dead by police

Berlin, Germany – Police have killed the chief suspect in a fatal attack that occurred near Berlin's Pride parade, officials announced Sunday evening.

Officers located the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, around 6:00 pm (1600 GMT). According to a statement from the Berlin police, he "ran towards them with a bladed weapon," prompting officers to open fire, resulting in his death.

The incident on July 25, 2026, saw a car plough into a crowd attending Christopher Street Day, one of Europe's largest Pride events. The attack shattered the celebratory atmosphere for hundreds of thousands of attendees in Tiergarten park, killing one person and wounding 16 others. Revellers fled the scene as sirens filled the night.

Authorities had been searching for Ballout, who was reportedly linked to Islamist circles. The attack occurred just days after a black ribbon was placed on a rainbow flag in front of the Brandenburg Gate in a gesture of "community mourning."

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He “ran towards them with a bladed weapon”, prompting officers to open fire, killing him.