Intensive Search for Berlin Attack Suspect

Berlin police are conducting a manhunt for Abdul Ballout, identified as the suspect in a deadly van attack at a German Pride Festival. One person was killed, and 29 others were injured after the van rammed into a crowd near the parade route. Authorities suspect terrorism due to the individual’s ties to Islamic groups.

Abdul Ballout, a German citizen with Lebanese roots, is wanted in connection to the attack. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated, “Everything we see here points to us dealing with an Islamic terror attack.” Ballout had previously come to the attention of authorities due to multiple crimes and his radicalization. He was born in Germany to a mother who became a naturalized German citizen in 2002.

Details of the Attack

On Saturday evening, a white van drove into a crowd in Berlin’s Tiergarten park. The vehicle eventually crashed into a tree. The suspect reportedly attacked several people with a machete before fleeing the scene.

A woman was killed in the attack. Three people sustained life-threatening injuries, while eight others were seriously hurt, according to Berlin’s fire service. The total number of injured reached 29.

Impact on Pride Festival

The attack occurred close to Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day Pride celebration. Despite its proximity, the incident did not happen on the parade route or at the festival’s closing event. Organizers quickly stopped the celebration, cutting short a live performance and urging attendees to leave the area.

Ongoing Manhunt

The suspect remains at large, and police continue to search for Ballout, known for his ties to Islamic circles in Berlin. Police spokesman Florian Nath confirmed that the suspect is known to investigators, although the specifics of his motives and his role in the crime are not yet clear.

Authorities searched various locations in Berlin, including an apartment in the Schöneberg district, but did not locate the suspect.