In Brief:
- Police shot suspect Abdul Ballout in Spandau after a knife attack.
- A van rammed Berlin Pride crowds, killing one and injuring 29+.
- Authorities suspect an Islamist attack and raised security threats.
- Ballout had prior convictions and Islamic State ties.
- Chancellor Merz condemned the attack and honored victims.
- Mourners gathered at Brandenburg Gate, defying fear and protesting funding cuts.
A 21-year-old German citizen, Abdul Ballout, was shot and killed by police in Spandau after rushing officers with a knife, concluding a manhunt following a suspect Islamist terror attack at Berlin's Christopher Street Day Pride celebrations.
On Saturday evening, a white van was driven into a crowd near Tiergarten park, killing one woman and injuring at least 29 others, after which several people were stabbed.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that Ballout had a history of radicalisation, criminal offenses, and prior ties to the Islamic State group, leading authorities to raise Germany's national threat level.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the scene to condemn the attack and honor the victims, while community members held a vigil at the Brandenburg Gate, expressing resilience despite grief and criticism over government funding cuts for queer organizations.
Source: BBC
