German authorities have confirmed that the main suspect in the deadly attack near Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride celebrations was shot and killed during a police operation on Sunday, bringing an end to an intensive manhunt that followed one of the city’s most shocking recent acts of violence.
The attack occurred on Saturday evening when a van drove into a crowd near the Pride event, killing one person and injuring at least 29 others. According to investigators, the suspect then reportedly exited the vehicle carrying a bladed weapon before fleeing the scene. Authorities described the incident as a suspected Islamist terrorist attack.
Police identified the suspect as a 21-year-old German citizen who was already known to security services because of previous extremist links and criminal convictions. Officials said he had previously attempted to join the Islamic State group and had been convicted of offenses related to extremist activities.
On Sunday, police tracked the suspect to the Spandau district of Berlin. During the operation, officers confronted him after he allegedly advanced toward them while armed with a sharp object. Police opened fire, and the suspect died at the scene. Authorities stated that an investigation into the police shooting, as required under German law, is underway.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the country’s values of freedom, tolerance, and diversity. Security measures at public events across Germany are expected to be reviewed following the incident, while Berlin’s LGBTQ+ community has begun mourning the victims and calling for unity against extremism.
Investigators continue to examine whether the attacker acted alone and are gathering witness statements and forensic evidence to establish the full sequence of events and motive behind the attack.
