Berlin police on Sunday shot and killed the 21‑year‑old suspect in what authorities described as an Islamist terror attack at the city’s Pride celebrations, ending an intense manhunt that began after a deadly rampage near Tiergarten. One person was killed and 29 injured Saturday when a van slammed into crowds near the Christopher Street Day parade before the attacker began stabbing people with a machete, striking an area packed with revelers and jolting security agencies across Europe. The assault immediately revived Germany’s debate over extremism, public safety and immigration at a moment when far‑right parties are gaining ground and European governments are warning of renewed risks from lone‑actor violence.
Investigators identified the suspect as Abdul B., a German citizen of Lebanese background born in Berlin in 2005. Prosecutors said he was known to police for ties to extremist circles and had previously attempted to reach Syria to join the Islamic State group, which is responsible for widespread atrocities and human rights violations. He was detained in Lebanon in 2025 and served three months in prison for inciting sectarian conflict before returning to Germany, where a juvenile court later handed him a suspended sentence for preparing a violent act and publishing ISIS propaganda. Authorities said they are now examining his digital communications, contacts and movements to determine whether he acted alone and whether he had support from extremist networks.
Police released photos of him Sunday and appealed for public help as security forces expanded searches across Berlin. Officers located him at an allotment garden in the city’s Spandau district around 6 p.m. He allegedly rushed at them with a stabbing weapon, prompting members of the SEK tactical unit to open fire. Berlin officials said security would be tightened around upcoming public events, and Pride organizers urged vigilance while expressing solidarity with victims and emergency workers.
Germany’s interior minister condemned the attack as a “brutal assault on an open society,” while European security officials noted that several countries have faced similar vehicle‑ramming incidents in recent years. Analysts said the Berlin attack underscores persistent concerns about radicalized individuals capable of rapid, low‑tech violence that can evade early detection.
