Berlin Pride suspect shot dead by police after launching at them with a knife

According to rbb,the 21-year-old had attempted to join the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS).

He was allegedly imprisoned in Lebanon until October of last year and was arrested by Berlin police when he returned to Germany in November.

At a press conference this afternoon,Dobrindt spoke of Ballout having a ‘high number of criminal offences’ and of his ‘Islamist radicalisation’.

The suspect was recently given a suspended sentence of one year and ten months,which the prosecution service had appealed.

Christopher Street Day,named after the New York City street where the Stonewall Riots,which ignited the LGBTQ+ rights movement,unfolded,was cancelled.

Friedrich Merz,the German chancellor, said the ‘heinous act’ was against people who simply wanted to ‘treat each other with kindness’.

‘We are open and freedom-loving – and we will preserve and defend that,’ Merz added on X.

‘The act will be investigated and pursued with the utmost severity.’

Mourners are leaving messages for the victims of the attack (Picture: John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

Wir sind offen und freiheitsliebend – und das werden wir auch bewahren und verteidigen. Die Tat wird aufgeklärt und mit aller Härte verfolgt.

Meine Gedanken sind bei den Betroffenen und ihren Angehörigen. Ich wünsche den Verletzten rasche Genesung und danke allen Einsatzkräften.

— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) July 26,2026

Berlin’s mayor,Kai Wegner,said that the incident was an ‘attack on our free and open society’.

‘Berlin is the city of freedom – and our freedom has been attacked in the most horrific way today,’ Wegner stated.

‘My thoughts are with the victims,their families and friends.’

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Germany’s capital for the peaceful occasion,which also takes place in Switzerland.

Over 150 cities in Germany hold annual CSD events,including Hamburg and Cologne.

The event began yesterday afternoon with a parade in the city before making its way to the park for the evening.

Emergency services swarmed the scene after the cancellation of Christopher Street Day celebrations (Picture: Reuters)

The Pride celebrations began this afternoon in the city (Picture: Fabian Sommer/DPA via AP)

Police have not confirmed whether the Pride event had been deliberately targeted.

According to the Tagesspiegel newspaper,a Michael Jackson show was underway when the event’s immediate cancellation was announced.

A member of the CSD board took to the stage and told the audience: ‘Unfortunately,we have to end the event prematurely due to a difficult situation.’

Organisers then said on social media: ‘Please leave the premises calmly and in an orderly manner. Please avoid the Victory Column and the Tiergarten. Leave the premises in the direction of the main train station.’

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