Vehicle crashes into gay pride parade in Germany - 1 dead, 29 injured

One person was killed and 29 others were injured when a small van was driven into a crowd gathered at a Pride event in Berlin, Germany, last Saturday night. The person considered the main suspect in this attack was shot dead by German special police forces on Sunday afternoon.

The deceased has been identified as Abdul Balout, a 21-year-old German national. Police spokesman Florian Nath stated that when police attempted to arrest him in the Spandau district, located in western Berlin, he attacked police officers with a knife. In response, officers opened fire, and the suspect, who sustained serious injuries, died at the scene.

The initial attack occurred shortly after 10:00 PM on Saturday night. The van, which crashed into the crowd, subsequently hit a tree and stopped, after which the driver abandoned it. He then attacked people walking on the road with a large knife (machete). Authorities confirmed that although several of the 29 injured individuals were in serious condition, none of their lives were at risk. Furthermore, investigators are also focusing on reports that another suspect was in the van at the time of the attack.

The deceased Balout had previously been accused of involvement in terrorist activities. He was sentenced to three months in prison in Lebanon in 2025 on charges of attempting to join the ISIS terrorist organization in Syria. He was later deported to Germany, where he was convicted of planning a terrorist attack, but the judge suspended his sentence, considering the six months he had already spent in pre-trial detention. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the suspect's mother was born in Lebanon and later obtained German citizenship.

Following this incident, organizers immediately took steps to halt the Christopher Street Day Pride event. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, via the 'X' social media platform, condemned the attack as a despicable act and stated that it would be investigated with the full force of the law. Political analysts suggest that this attack has reignited the debate in Germany regarding security and Muslim immigrants, and it could further boost support for the anti-immigrant far-right 'AfD' party in the upcoming elections.