German police hunt suspect in Islamist attack at Berlin Pride event

German police hunt suspect in Islamist attack at Berlin Pride event

German authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for a 21-year-old man suspected of carrying out a terrorist attack during Berlin's Christopher Street Day celebrations on Saturday. The incident left one woman dead and 29 others injured.

The suspected attacker, identified as Abdul B., allegedly drove a white, privately owned van into a crowd at approximately 10 p.m. Near Potsdamer Platz. According to police spokesman Florian Nath, the vehicle was traveling along Ahornsteig, parallel to Lennéstrasse, and struck several people at the edge of the festival in the Tiergarten park area before crashing into a tree.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the suspect subsequently attacked other pedestrians with a bladed weapon, believed to be a machete. While some victims sustained serious and life-threatening injuries, police confirmed by Sunday afternoon that no injured persons remained in critical condition.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the event as a heinous act and an attack on our society, noting that people from around the world had gathered for the celebrations to emphasize kindness and tolerance.

Suspect Profile and Background

Police released a wanted photo of Abdul B. On Sunday morning. He is described as having a slim build, black hair, and standing around 1.90 metres tall. At the time of the attack, he was reportedly wearing white pants and a black hoodie.

According to Interior Minister Dobrindt, the suspect is a German citizen of Lebanese descent born in Germany in 2005. His mother was granted German citizenship in 2002. The minister described Abdul B. As having an extensive criminal record and a high level of criminal offences.

The suspect was previously sentenced in Berlin to one year and ten months in prison, a sentence that was commuted to parole. Prosecutors appealed that decision. He was released from a young offenders' institution in May 2026.

Terrorism Investigation

Dobrindt stated that everything we are seeing here indicates that this was an Islamist terrorist attack, adding that the suspect had been radicalized and associated with the radical Islamist scene. Some German media outlets reported that Abdul B. Expressed sympathies for the Islamic State terrorist group.

Despite these assessments, officials noted that the precise motive and the exact connection between the suspect's radicalization and the attack have not yet been fully clarified. Authorities also admitted it remains unclear whether Abdul B. Was the person actually driving the vehicle.

Investigation details remain fluid. Witness accounts differ on whether one or more attackers were involved, leaving the exact number of perpetrators unknown. Police have not yet identified the owner of the van, only confirming it was not a rental.

Emergency Response

The attack brought an abrupt end to the Pride celebrations, with police calling off the remainder of the night's events. Hundreds of thousands of people had attended the two-day celebration, which included a parade moving from Mitte through Schöneberg toward the Brandenburg Gate.

Police have deployed officers across Germany, focusing on border crossings, airports, and railway stations. Authorities warned the public not to approach the suspect, stating: They may be armed and dangerous!

The search for Abdul B. Remains the top priority for German law enforcement.