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One dead, several injured after vehicle plows through crowd at LGBTQ+ event in Germany

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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 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.
+ 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 Suspect in Berlin Pride vehicle attack is dead, police say 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.
− 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.
+ Europe Suspect in Berlin Pride vehicle attack is dead, police say Updated July 26, 20263:04 PM ET Originally published July 25, 20269:10 PM ET By Chandelis Duster People leave flowers and notes outside the Brandenburg Gate in support of LGBTQ+ after a car rammed into a crowd at the Pride March in Berlin, Sunday, July 26, 2026.
− 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.
+ Markus Schreiber/AP hide caption The person suspected of driving a vehicle into a crowd at a Pride event in Berlin was killed in a confrontation with police, according to city authorities. On Saturday, the suspect was found in Spandau, a suburb in Berlin, and ran toward officers with a bladed weapon, Berlin police said on social media.
− local time. He then allegedly attacked others with a weapon, suspected to be a machete.
+ They fired on the suspect, who died at the scene, the officer said.
− On Sunday, Germany's interior minister Alexander Dobrindt named the suspect as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, saying he was still at large.
+ On Sunday, Germany's interior minister Alexander Dobrindt named the suspect as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout.
Ballout was born in Germany but has Lebanese roots. "Everything we see here points to us dealing with an Islamic terror attack," Dobrindt said, adding that the total number of injured was 29.
− Dobrindt said Ballout had come to the attention of in the past because of numerous previous crimes, though he didn't give further details.
+ Dobrindt said Ballout had come to the attention of police in the past because of numerous previous crimes, though he didn't give further details.
+ At least one person is dead and several people are injured 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 urban parks in Germany, during the Pride festival's closing party at around 10:00 p.m. local time. He then allegedly attacked others with a weapon, believed to be a machete.
"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.
+ Do not approach him, he may be armed and dangerous!" Berlin police warned the public on Saturday.
− 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.
+ 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.
− "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.
+ "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 on Saturday, 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.
+ That celebration was called off after the attack.
− Additional reporting by Kate Bartlett. Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor
+ Additional reporting by Kate Bartlett Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor