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2026 Berlin Pride attack

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2026 Berlin Pride attack
The van used in the attack after it had crashed into a tree
2026 Berlin Pride attack is located in Berlin
Attack site
Attack site
2026 Berlin Pride attack (Berlin)
Location within Berlin
Location52°30′45″N 13°22′12″E / 52.512486°N 13.370131°E / 52.512486; 13.370131
Ahornsteig, Tiergarten, Berlin, Germany
Date25 July 2026
c. 22:00 (CEST; UTC+02:00)
TargetPedestrians attending Berlin Pride celebrations
Attack type
Vehicle-ramming attack, slashing
Weapons
Deaths1
Injured29
PerpetratorAbdul Ballout
MotiveIslamic terrorism[2][3]

On the evening of 25 July 2026, 21-year-old Lebanese-German Abdul Ballout drove a van into a crowd of pedestrians during Berlin Christopher Street Day, a pride celebration in the Tiergarten in central Berlin, Germany. One woman was killed and 29 people were injured, several critically. Ballout fled on foot, and a large-scale manhunt was launched. He was fatally shot the next day by police when they attempted to arrest him.

The pride event, which had drawn hundreds of thousands of attendees, was called off shortly after the attack. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that it was suspected to be an Islamist terrorist attack.

A year before the attack, in May 2025, Ballout was arrested in Lebanon while attempting to enter Syria to join ISIS. He flew back to Germany in November 2025, but was arrested and detained at the Berlin Airport. In May 2026, two months before the attack, Ballout was convicted of planning an attack but instead received a suspended sentence from a juvenile court.

Background

[edit]

Berlin Pride, known locally as Christopher Street Day, after the New York street where Stonewall Inn is situated,[4] is Berlin's annual pride celebration, commemorating the 1969 Stonewall riots. It is a combination of parades and demonstrations for LGBTQ+ equality and protection against discrimination.[5] The 2026 parade drew hundreds of thousands of participants along its route through central Berlin, culminating in a closing rally and concert near the Brandenburg Gate.[6]

Attack

[edit]
Route of the perpetrator, ramming people walking on the footpaths

At approximately 22:00 on 25 July 2026,[7] a Citroën SpaceTourer van[1] struck pedestrians on the Ahornsteig pedestrian path in Tiergarten, off the route the pride march had earlier followed.[8][5] The van collided with a tree in the park, after which the driver attacked bystanders with a machete and ran away.[9][10]

The pride event was cancelled at about 22:15,[11] cutting short the closing rally near the Brandenburg Gate. Organisers and police told attendees to leave the area immediately.[12] Berlin's fire department said its psychosocial emergency support teams treated around 30 people at the scene who were not physically injured but required support.[6] Police cordoned off a large section of the Tiergarten and urged people to avoid the surrounding area,[7] and officers at the scene were described as heavily equipped, using ballistic helmets and rapid-fire weapons.[13]

Victims

[edit]

A 65-year-old woman from Poland died at the scene after initial resuscitation attempts by first responders.[14][15] Twenty-nine people were injured, some seriously.[2][16] By the morning after the attack, none of the casualties were in a critical condition.[17] Police established a dedicated telephone line for relatives seeking information.[12]

Investigation

[edit]

On the morning of 26 July, police said an intensive manhunt for one or more perpetrators was under way.[6] Der Tagesspiegel reported that videos of arrests circulating on social media around this time showed unrelated detentions elsewhere at the edges of the pride crowd, not of the perpetrator.[13] Later on the same day, Berlin police named 21-year-old Abdul Ballout as the suspect, after which the Berlin public prosecutor’s office released further details about him. Police described Ballout as a member of Berlin’s “Islamist scene”.[18][2] and launched a public manhunt. An Iranian man, initially believed to be a passenger in the van, was arrested the same night but later released without any charges.[19] Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as "an Islamic terrorist attack".[2]

Berlin police and the General Public Prosecutor's Office issued a wanted notice that described Ballout as around 1.9 metres tall and of slim build, with black hair, and warned that he could be armed and dangerous.[20][21] Ballout was born in Berlin in 2005 to a Lebanese family.[22] Police said he had known links to Islamist circles,[23] and Dobrindt stated that Ballout "had previously drawn attention to himself through a high volume of criminal offences, radicalisation and affiliation with the Islamist scene".[24]

According to details released by the Berlin public prosecutor's office, a juvenile court convicted him in February 2022 of assault and robbery for assaulting a victim at a Berlin high school in 2019 and robbing another victim of a pair of headphones in 2020.[25]

The Berlin public prosecutor's office said Ballout travelled via Turkey to Lebanon in May 2025, more than a year before the attack, intending to join the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria.[26][27] He was arrested in July 2025 and sentenced to three months in prison by a Lebanese military court for 'incitement to religious and sectarian conflict'.[28][29] Ballout then returned to Germany in November 2025 after completing his sentence, where he was arrested at Berlin Brandenburg Airport and held in pre-trial detention.[30] In May 2026, two months before the attack, Ballout was convicted by a juvenile court of “preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state” and sentenced to 22 months in prison.[26][27] The court deferred its decision on whether to suspend the sentence for six months, and he was released under probation supervision.[28]

On 3 July, police searched Ballout's home on suspicion of weapons possession but found only a toy gun.[31] He had recently been transferred to a deradicalisation programme whose staff judged his cooperation "fake" and planned to alert authorities.[31] That a suspect with this record was released and not under close surveillance became a controversy of the aftermath, drawing criticism from politicians, security experts, and a police union.[32] After the attack, the German government began to consider banning convicted terrorists from getting suspended sentences.[33]

On the evening of 26 July, Ballout was shot and killed by the SEK, a state-controlled German police tactical unit, during an attempted arrest in Spandau.[34]

Responses

[edit]
Flowers and candles at Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate one day after the attack. The Brandenburg Gate is illuminated in Pride colors.

Governing Mayor Kai Wegner visited the scene and condemned the attack as a strike against Berlin's open society, posting that the city's freedom had been targeted.[35][12] Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack as an “abhorrent act”. A government spokesperson said that Merz was in close contact with Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and was receiving continual briefings from security authorities. Merz and Dobrindt thanked emergency personnel and pledged to press for a thorough investigation and punishment of those responsible.[35][6][36] Berlin's state interior senator, Iris Spranger, said she was shocked by the attack on a peacefully celebrating crowd and that she was in close contact with security authorities.[6] The Berlin Senate's queer-affairs commissioner, Alfonso Pantisano, described the attack as a day of "great mourning for the queer community".[37]

On 26 July, it was reported that German officials had called for tighter laws against known extremists. The Alternative for Germany party accused Friedrich Merz of failing to deal with Islamic radicalism in Germany.[38] Meanwhile, Die Linke proposed a plan for the protection of queer life in Berlin which includes preventive measures against queerphobia, education about LGBT+ rights at schools, the reversal of budget cuts for queer projects, and adding protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual identity to the Basic Law. At the same time, House of Representatives deputy Elif Eralp opposed "instrumentalization of the attack for anti-Muslim racism" and immediate tightening of security laws.[39]

Also on 26 July, a remembrance rally was held at Pariser Platz. The event had been registered with police for 600 participants, but the organiser estimated that up to 10,000 attended; police put the figure at 5,000. A silent memorial march from St. Mary’s Church to the Brandenburg Gate was planned for later that afternoon.[17]

On 26 July 2026, the day after the attack, Forum Islam Berlin—a forum comprising Muslim religious communities and organisations in Berlin—strongly condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims, injured people, and their families. Imam Scharjil Khalid also told Neues Deutschland that, on the Forum's initiative, direct contacts had been established with Berliner CSD e. V., the association that organises Berlin Pride, since the attack. In response to the attack, members of the Ahmadiyya-run Khadija Mosque organised a series of public dialogue and protest actions under the slogan "Muslin for Peace—Together Against Extremism." The imam also criticised what he described as a climate of generalised suspicion toward Muslims.[40][41]

Julia Miosga, a board member of Berliner CSD e.V.[42], said that right-wing or religious ideologies sought to oppress queer people and opposed attempts to exploit the attack to incite hatred against Muslims or people of particular origins. The Berlin-Brandenburg regional association of LSVD+ called for improved legal protections for LGBT+ people. Doreen Hoffmann, a board member of CSD Deutschland, a federation of Pride organizing associations in Germany, expressed anger towards political and religious extremists, as well as towards politicians who, in her view, expressed concern after the attack despite repeatedly challenging queer rights.[43] LSVD+ accused "right-wing populist and radical right parties and media" of racism and hypocrisy concerning LGBT+ rights.[44] On 2 August 2026, thousands of people marched through the Mitte borough of central Berlin in a protest against anti-queer hatred and Islamophobia, in response to an increase in Islamophobic rhetoric following the attack.[45]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "More on the search for Berlin Pride attacker". Deutsche Welle. DW. 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Berlin Pride van ramming likely an 'Islamist terror attack' carried out by German citizen, official says". BBC News. 26 July 2026. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Strack, Christoph (29 July 2026). "German Muslims are alarmed by Berlin Islamist terror attack". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 29 July 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026. Investigators are now relatively certain that the perpetrator was an Islamist, a radicalized Muslim with links to the "Islamic State" terror group.
  4. ↑ "Christopher Street Day 2026". berlin.de. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 "At least one dead and several injured after vehicle drives into crowd at Berlin Pride". CNN. 25 July 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mutmaßlicher Anschlag auf den CSD: Mutmaßlich Tatverdächtiger nach Angriff auf CSD wohl identifiziert". Die Tageszeitung (in German). 26 July 2026. ISSN 0931-9085. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 "CSD in Berlin: Auto fährt in Menschenmenge – Toter und Verletzte". ZDFheute (in German). 25 July 2026. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Vehicle drives into crowd at Berlin Pride festival, causing injuries, police say". Reuters. 25 July 2026. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Tausche, Nadja; Kock, Felicitas; Hagen, Hans von der (25 July 2026). "CSD abgebrochen – Fahrzeug soll Menschen angefahren haben". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Archived from the original on 25 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Suspect in deadly Berlin Pride attack is killed in confrontation with police". PBS. 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "CSD in Berlin vorzeitig abgebrochen". tagesschau.de (in German). 26 July 2026. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 "One dead, 17 injured in suspected vehicle attack near Christopher Street Day Pride event in Berlin". ANI News. 26 July 2026.
  13. 1 2 "CSD Berlin 2026 abgebrochen: Kleinbus fährt im Tiergarten in Menschenmenge – eine Tote, Täter flüchtig". Der Tagesspiegel (in German). 25 July 2026. ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Berliner CSD abgebrochen: Auto fährt in Tiergarten in Menschenmenge – ein Toter, mehrere Schwerverletzte". RND. 26 July 2026. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Luther, Philip (27 July 2026). "Tote Frau ist offenbar eine 65 Jahre alte Mutter aus Polen". Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Police hunting for suspect after Berlin Pride event ramming kills one, wounds 17". The Jerusalem Post. 26 July 2026. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  17. 1 2 "+++ CSD: Bundesinnenminister spricht von islamistischen Terroranschlag +++ 29 Verletzte +++". rbb24.de (in German). 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Sani, Michele; Knolle, Kirsti (25 July 2026). "Vehicle mows down crowd at Berlin Pride festival, killing one". Reuters. Retrieved 26 July 2026. They later said they had identified an Islamist as a suspect and were seeking his arrest.
  19. ↑ Luther, Philipp (27 July 2026). "Zweiter Verdächtiger wieder auf freiem Fuß". Berliner Morgenpost. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Berlin Pride ramming: Police shoot suspect dead". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Moulson, Geir; Grieshaber, Kirsten; Dazio, Stefanie (26 July 2026). "The suspect in the deadly Berlin Pride attack is killed in a confrontation with police". AP News. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "What we know about the Berlin Pride attacker". Reuters. 27 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "Berlin Pride attack suspect Abdul Ballout killed by police after manhunt". Newsweek. 26 July 2026. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  24. ↑ Bell, Bethany (27 July 2026). "Anger as Berlin Pride attacker revealed to have been freed weeks earlier". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 July 2026. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  25. ↑ James, Imogen; Hoyle, Craig; Berlin, with Michael Steininger reporting from. "Berlin Pride attack suspect shot and killed during police operation". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  26. 1 2 Lapham, Jake (26 July 2026). "Berlin Pride attack suspect shot and killed during police operation". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  27. 1 2 Murphy, T. Michelle (26 July 2026). "Berlin Pride Attack Suspect Dies in Police Confrontation After Daylong Manhunt". Time. Archived from the original on 26 July 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  28. 1 2 Jackson, James (26 July 2026). "Berlin Pride suspect tried to join Islamic State". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "What we know about the Berlin Pride attacker". Reuters. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "What we know about the Berlin Pride attacker". Reuters. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Berlin Pride attack suspect raised red flags, group says, amid questions about prior release from prison despite ISIS ties – CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  32. ↑ "German govt vows to toughen laws after jihadist attack on Pride event". France 24. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  33. ↑ Germany could change terror laws after Pride parade attacker avoided jail, Telegraph, July 27, 2026
  34. ↑ "+++ Anschlag beim CSD: Geflüchteter mutmaßlicher Täter erschossen +++". rbb24.de (in German). 26 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  35. 1 2 "Tödliche Amokfahrt auf CSD – Täter flieht – GSG 9 im Einsatz". Focus. 25 July 2026.
  36. ↑ "One dead, 16 injured at Berlin Pride event after vehicle crashes into crowd, police say". BBC News. 26 July 2026. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  37. ↑ Sexton, Karl; Oelofse, Louis (25 July 2026). "Berlin: 1 dead after vehicle drives into CSD Pride event". DW News. Archived from the original on 25 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026. Police spokesperson Florian Nath said a suspect has been identified who was known to police and 'is believed to be associated with the Islamist scene in Berlin.'
  38. ↑ Cole, Deborah (27 July 2026). "German officials call for tighter extremism laws after Berlin Pride attack". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  39. ↑ "Linke Berlin stellt 5-Punkte-Plan zum Schutz queerer Menschen vor". Neues Deutschland. 4 August 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  40. ↑ Nasereddeen, Salim (3 August 2026). "»Muslime für Frieden«: Ahmadiyya demonstrieren in Berlin-Pankow". Neues Deutschland. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  41. ↑ "German Muslims are alarmed by Berlin Islamist terror attack". dw.com. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  42. ↑ "About us". Berlin Pride | CSD Berlin 25.07.2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  43. ↑ "„Liebe ist stärker als der Hass!"". Die Tageszeitung. DPA. 3 August 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  44. ↑ Grigutsch, Max (29 July 2026). "Angriff auf CSD in Berlin: Alle Instrumente auf den Tisch". Junge Welt (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  45. ↑ Kanistras, Nikos (2 August 2026). "Protest Against Queer Hatred And Islamophobia". Reuters. Retrieved 4 August 2026. Thousands of people marched through the Mitte district of Berlin to protest against the Islamophobic outbreak, at the aftermath of the deadly vehicle-rampage at CSD Pride parade party, on Aug. 2 2026 in Berlin, Germany.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
[edit]
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