Berlin Pride attack suspect shot in police operation
Police in Berlin fired on a 21‑year‑old German citizen suspected of carrying out an Islamist terror attack after he rushed a van into a crowd of Pride participants and stabbed several people.
The incident began at about 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, when a white van collided with a line of revelers around Tiergarten park, killing one woman and injuring dozens. Police then pursued the suspect, who was later shot dead in Spandau during a nighttime operation.
Authorities said the suspect had a history of radicalisation, criminal offences, and a failed attempt to join the Islamic State in Syria. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt classified the incident as an “Islamist terror attack”, and Germany raised its threat level.
Berlin’s Pride has been a symbol of LGBTQ activism since 1969. Following the attack, big‑name events were cancelled and community members staged vigils at the Brandenburg Gate. The national government vowed to “defend freedom and openness” while condemning extremist violence.
Police reports state that all injured are now stable and that investigations will continue into motives and links to extremist networks.
