One woman has been killed and at least 29 others injured after a van was driven into a crowd at a Berlin Pride event on Saturday night, in what officials are treating as a likely Islamist terror attack. Police have launched an intensive manhunt for the suspect in the German capital, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemning the incident as heinous.

The attack occurred around 22:00 local time when a white vehicle plowed into hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Tiergarten park for the annual Christopher Street Day event, near the Brandenburg Gate. The incident also involved people being stabbed, with officials believing a machete-like blade was used. The Pride event was immediately cancelled, with organizers directing the crowd to evacuate.

By 01:00 local time on Sunday, police confirmed one fatality and multiple injuries. The vehicle believed to have been used in the attack was later found abandoned after crashing into a tree. Authorities identified a suspect with Islamist links by 03:30, though no arrest has been made and a motive has not yet been formally suggested.

The suspect has been identified by police as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout, a German citizen of Lebanese background, who was known to authorities and had prior criminal offenses. He received a prison sentence that was commuted to parole. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated the suspect had been radicalized.

German media reports indicate Ballout was a supporter of the Islamic State group and had unsuccessfully attempted to join the organization in the past. Police sources cited in media suggest he traveled to Lebanon in 2025 and was arrested upon his return to Berlin, subsequently being held in pre-trial detention until May 2026. He was reportedly ordered to participate in a de-radicalization program.

The intensified manhunt has widened to encompass the entire city, involving thousands of police officers from Berlin and surrounding states. On Sunday, law enforcement maintained a guard outside an apartment building in Berlin's Tiergarten district, reportedly the suspect's residence.

While Ballout's image has been released and the search is ongoing, police have cautioned that one or more individuals may have fled the vehicle, indicating the possibility of additional suspects. The full extent of injuries and the specific circumstances surrounding the stabbings are still being investigated.

This incident has sent shockwaves through the German capital and has prompted widespread condemnation from political leaders. The focus remains on apprehending the suspect and understanding the full scope of the attack and its motivations.