Key facts
- A van rammed into crowds at Berlin's Pride festival, killing one person and injuring 29.
- German authorities issued a wanted notice for Abdul B., a 21-year-old suspect.
- The suspect is known to police, linked to Berlin's Islamist scene, and classified as radicalized.
- The attack led to the cancellation of the Christopher Street Day Pride parade.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to defend freedom and act decisively against terrorism.
German authorities are searching for a 21-year-old suspect, identified as Abdul B., in connection with an attack at Berlin's Pride festival where a vehicle rammed into a crowd, killing one woman and injuring 29 others. The attack, classified as an "Islamist terrorist attack," led to the cancellation of the Christopher Street Day parade.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged swift action to apprehend those responsible and stated that Germany will "defend freedom" against terrorism. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed the death and injuries, noting the suspect also allegedly used a machete after the vehicle attack. The attack occurred outside the official parade route.
The suspect, Abdul B., a German national of Lebanese origin, is known to authorities for numerous offenses and is considered radicalized and prone to violence. Reports indicate he had attempted to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State and was previously held in pre-trial detention until May 2026. He was also reportedly in the initial phase of a deradicalization program.
Community responses included a vigil and a Pride ride. The incident has sparked debate about political Islam and its threat to open society.