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One dead, several injured after vehicle plows through crowd at LGBTQ+ event in Germany
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"My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and friends… And I have confidence in the police and security authorities, who will investigate with the utmost urgency."
Earlier in the day, thousands marched through Berlin to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights during the annual Christopher Street Day Parade, a pride parade. One of Europe's largest pride events, the celebration was called off after the attack.
Additional reporting by Kate Bartlett.
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− Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Vehicle plows through LGBTQ+ event in Germany Berlin police said they have identified a suspect who "is known to police" and has links to "Islamist circles." Europe One dead, several injured after vehicle plows through crowd at Berlin Pride event Updated July 26, 20262:45 AM ET Originally published July 25, 20269:10 PM ET By
Chandelis Duster
Emergency personnel tend to a person on a stretcher following the cancellation of Christopher Street Day in Berlin on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
+ Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Vehicle plows through LGBTQ+ event in Germany Germany's interior minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a likely "Islamic terror attack", and named the suspect as Abdul Ballout, who was born in Germany and has Lebanese roots.
− Andreas Rabenstein/DPA via AP hide caption
At least one person is dead and several people are injured after a vehicle drove into the crowd at a Pride event in Berlin on Saturday, in what German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called "an attack on our society."
Berlin police said they have identified a suspect who "is known to police" and has links to "Islamist circles." Police have launched a manhunt for the 21-year-old who they identified only as Abdul B.
"If you encounter the suspect, immediately dial 110!
+ Europe One dead, several injured after vehicle plows through crowd at Berlin Pride event Updated July 26, 202610:44 AM ET Originally published July 25, 20269:10 PM ET By
Chandelis Duster
Emergency personnel tend to a person on a stretcher following the cancellation of Christopher Street Day in Berlin on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
− Do not approach him, he may be armed and dangerous!" police warned the public, adding he was believed to be wearing a black hoodie and white pants.
A driver in white vehicle struck several people before 10:00 p.m.
+ Andreas Rabenstein/DPA via AP hide caption
At least one person is dead and several people are injured after a vehicle drove into the crowd at a Pride event in Berlin on Saturday, in what German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called "an attack on our society."
Authorities said Ballout drove a van into a crowd in Tiergarten Park, one of the largest parks in Berlin, during the Pride festival's closing party at around 10:00 p.m.
− local time, according to Berlin police.
+ local time.
− At least 17 people are injured and several have life threatening injuries, according to Berlin police.
+ He then allegedly attacked others with a weapon, suspected to be a machete.
− It's Been a Minute Why Queer Third Spaces Matter The incident occurred in Tiergarten Park, one of the largest parks in Berlin, where an LGBTQ+ celebration was taking place.
+ On Sunday, Germany's interior minister Alexander Dobrindt named the suspect as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, saying he was still at large. Ballout was born in Germany but has Lebanese roots.
− One or more people are believed to have subsequently fled the vehicle.
+ "Everything we see here points to us dealing with an Islamic terror attack," Dobrindt said, adding that the total number of injured was 29.
− And police said several people are reported to have been injured with stabbing weapons.
+ Dobrindt said Ballout had come to the attention of in the past because of numerous previous crimes, though he didn't give further details.
− Chancellor Merz on Sunday called the incident " a heinous act" on X and said "we are open and freedom-loving—and we will preserve and defend that."
Kai Wegner, the governing mayor of Berlin, called the incident an "attack on our free and cosmopolitan society."
"Berlin is the city of freedom – and our freedom has been horribly attacked today," Wegner said in a post on social media.
+ "If you encounter the suspect, immediately dial 110!
+ Do not approach him, he may be armed and dangerous!" Berlin police warned the public on Saturday, adding he was believed to be wearing a black hoodie and white pants.
It's Been a Minute Why Queer Third Spaces Matter Chancellor Merz on Sunday called the incident " a heinous act" on X and said "we are open and freedom-loving—and we will preserve and defend that."
Kai Wegner, the governing mayor of Berlin, called the incident an "attack on our free and cosmopolitan society."
"Berlin is the city of freedom – and our freedom has been horribly attacked today," Wegner said in a post on social media.