German police kill suspect in Berlin Pride attack following manhunt
German special forces killed 21-year-old suspect Abdul Ballout in Berlin after he attacked officers following a 20-hour manhunt over the Tiergarten Pride assault.
German special forces have shot and killed 21-year-old suspect Abdul Ballout in Berlin's Spandau district following a 20-hour manhunt. Police located Ballout in a garden shed on Sunday evening. When special units raided the structure, Ballout attacked officers with a knife before being killed in an exchange of gunfire.
Ballout was identified as the driver who rammed a rented van into a Pride celebration crowd near Tiergarten on Saturday night, subsequently attacking bystanders with a knife and machete. The assault left one woman dead and 29 others injured.
Investigators confirmed that Ballout had a prior juvenile conviction for planning a violent act, previously attempted to join Islamic State in Syria, and had refused deradicalisation programmes. German political leaders condemned the assault, with CDU leader Friedrich Merz declaring, "We will defend our freedoms."
Sources: La Repubblica, Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera.
Sources
- Corriere della Sera — Caccia al 21enne Abdul Ballout: già condannato, gli proposero incontri per deradicalizzarsi. «Sta con l'Isis, è pericoloso»
- La Repubblica — Attentato a Berlino, polizia: “Il sospettato è stato ucciso”. Merz: “Difenderemo le nostre libertà”
- Il Messaggero — Attentato a Berlino, ucciso il killer dopo irruzione. La ricostruzione: il van bianco sulla folla, l'attacco con coltello e machete e poi la fuga
Earlier coverage
- Jul 28, 2026, 02:00 PM UTCGerman police kill Berlin Pride attack suspect following manhunt
- Jul 28, 2026, 08:00 AM UTCGerman police shoot dead Berlin attack suspect after Spandau raid
- Jul 28, 2026, 03:00 AM UTCBerlin Pride attack suspect killed by police following manhunt
- Jul 27, 2026, 02:00 PM UTCGerman leaders vow to defend freedoms following Berlin Pride attack
- Jul 27, 2026, 08:00 AM UTCGerman police shoot dead suspect in Berlin Pride attack
- Jul 27, 2026, 01:00 AM UTCBerlin Pride attack suspect killed by police after 20-hour manhunt
- Jul 26, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCSuspect killed by German police following deadly Berlin Pride attack