German Authorities in Manhunt for Berlin Pride Attack Suspect

German police are actively searching for Abdul B, a 21-year-old suspect in a deadly van attack at a Berlin Pride Festival. The attack resulted in one death and 16 injuries when a van crashed into a crowd near the parade. Authorities suspect terrorism, citing his links to Islamic groups.

The suspect, Abdul Ballout, is believed to have connections to Germany’s “Islamist scene.” After allegedly driving a van into the crowd and attacking individuals with a machete, he remains at large. Officials launched an intensive manhunt, describing Ballout, who is of Lebanese origin but born in Germany, as armed and dangerous.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt remarked, “Everything we see here points to us dealing with an Islamic terror attack.” Ballout, known to police, has a history of criminal activities and reported radicalization. His mother became a naturalized German citizen in 2002, three years before his birth. Previously, he received a suspended sentence for undisclosed crimes.

The van attack occurred at approximately 10 p.m. on Saturday in Berlin’s Tiergarten park. Following the van crash into a tree, the attacker used a machete on others, then fled. The event took place near Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day Pride celebration, yet it was not on the parade route.

The Berlin fire service reported one death and several serious injuries, with at least 29 people hurt according to Dobrindt. Emergency services and police were swift to the scene, while organizers halted the celebration, urging attendees to leave promptly.

Police spokesman Florian Nath stated, “The suspect is known to us as a member of Islamic circles here in Berlin, and our search is progressing at full speed.” Despite searches across multiple locations, including Schöneberg district, the suspect remains elusive. Investigators continue to explore motivations and sequence of events.

The Associated Press noted that the manhunt continues, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the investigation into the tragic event.