A massive manhunt is under way in Germany after a suspected "Islamist terror attack" at a Berlin Pride event on Saturday night
One woman is dead and at least 29 others are believed injured after a van was driven into a crowd - the suspect then attacked people with a blade that "might have been a machete"
He has been named as Abdul Ballout; a German citizen of Lebanese background who was known to police and had previously "committed a number of crimes"
"We cannot rule out the possibility of copycat attacks," warns Germany's interior minister, as he announces that the country's threat level will be raised
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz promises the attack will be investigated with the "utmost severity"
Berlin should have woken up this morning with a massive hangover after a great party. Instead, it woke up to the sobering realisation of yet another deadly attack hitting the country, writes our reporter in Berlin
A large vigil is taking place at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, a short distance from where last night's ramming and stabbing happened.
People can be seen holding various Pride flags while music plays, as they stand together in the wake of the deadly attack.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, APWe're now hearing from Florian Nath, a spokesperson for Berlin police.
He is giving an update to the press in German, we will bring you any relevant lines.
Michael Steininger
Reporting from Berlin
Image source, EPA/ShutterstockGermany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told reporters in Berlin that last night’s attack on the Berlin Pride march was with high probability an act of Islamist terrorism.
The suspect is a 21-year-old German national with Lebanese roots, named Abdul Ballout.
The suspect, who has an extensive criminal past, is on the run, a massive manhunt is underway with police searching train stations, airports and border crossings.
One person died and at least 29 people were injured, according to Dobrindt.
Several people were severely injured when they were rammed by the van, others when Ballout exited the car and attacked them with a machete.
The minister pointed out that the attack took place outside the perimeter of the Pride event.
Image source, ReutersBerlin Mayor Kai Wegner says the incident was an "alleged Islamist attack on our way of living together"
We’ve just been hearing from Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner. Here’s what we learned:
The mayor says there was a "high level of security" at the Pride event.
Kai Wegner says he was asked whether the protection was sufficient, but says the festival site "was not attacked because the perpetrator wasn't able to make it there, because that had been secured by police".
However, he says that 400m from the event site, there were people on their way to or from the event, as well as others walking around.
He says they now need to act "as quickly as possible to investigate the perpetrator or perpetrators".
They’re working with police nationwide to track down the suspect.
He ends by thanking the organisers of the Pride event.
The official update is now finished - we will bring you a recap of what has been said soon.
Wegner goes on to say that the attack "is an alleged Islamist attack on our way of living together, on our liberal democracy, on our openness, on our freedom".
He says there will be a memorial service and people will walk together to Brandenburg Gate.
He says the flags are at half-mast at city hall.
The interior minister ends his comments, with Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner now speaking.
Wegner says yesterday was a "dark day", but before that it was a "bright, colourful day, showing just how open and diverse the city is".
He says Berlin was showing itself "as a city of freedom" and that "colourful is actually a lovely thing to be".
They had help from many organisations, alongside the fire brigade and police, and he thanks them for working together so quickly - they were "on the scene immediately", he adds.
"We cannot rule out the possibility of copycat attacks," warns the interior minister.
He announces that Germany's threat level will be raised as a result.
The minister describes the attack's aftermath as a "horrific scene", recounting how the van drove through a crowd of pedestrians, causing serious injuries.
Dobrindt then thanks all those "brave people" who stepped in to ensure there were no more deaths.
Giving more details about the attack, he says it took place a few hundred metres away from where the pride festival was being held.
He says the people at the scene were either in Tiergarten park or on their way to or from the pride festival.
He says mobile phones have been found and handed to investigators. They’ll be searched, but he can’t give any further details at the moment.
Dobrindt says the suspect had previously been sentenced.
Outlining the sentence, he says the suspect was given one year and 10 months in prison in Berlin, but the sentence was commuted to parole.
The public prosecutor had tried to appeal that decision, the minister says.
Image source, ReutersDobrindt says: "The suspect we are dealing with had already been known to police."
He says the suspect had committed a number of crimes, had previously been radicalised and was known for being part of the Islamist scene.
Dobrindt adds that the suspect is a German citizen of Lebanese background. He says the suspect was born in Germany in 2004 and his mother was naturalised as a German citizen in 2002.
The interior minister says one person has died and he understands that there are 29 injured, some of them seriously.
Alexander Dobrindt says the suspect "rammed into a crowd with a car" last night.
The suspect "then attacked the crowd with some type of blade, it might have been a machete, and also severely injured those people".
Dobrindt adds that "everything we are seeing here indicates that we have experienced an Islamist terror attack".
He says the suspect is on the run and that a large number of officers from Berlin police and the federal police are working to find him.
The German interior minister says he is "dumbstruck" and "deeply shaken by these horrific events".
He says their thoughts, grief and prayers are with the victims, their loved ones and the injured.
"We hope there is a chance that those still fighting for their lives will be able to overcome this difficult situation," he adds.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt says 29 people are injured.
We'll bring you more from him soon.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has just started addressing the media.
Tap Watch live to follow along at the top of the page - we’ll also bring you the key lines here.
The organisers of the Berlin Pride event will deliver a joint statement with Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner this afternoon.
Sophie Koch, the federal government commissioner for the acceptance of sexual and gender diversity, is also expected to attend.
The event is scheduled for 16:00 local time (15:00 BST) at Berlin's Red City Hall.
We’ll bring you the key lines when they come.
Michael Steininger
Reporting from Berlin
Image source, Berlin PoliceAccording to German media, the suspect wanted by police over last night’s attack on the Berlin Pride march had previously tried - unsuccessfully - to join the Islamic State group.
Police sources are quoted as saying Abdul Ballout travelled to Lebanon in 2025 and was arrested on his return to Berlin.
The 21-year-old had been in pre-trial detention until May 2026 and was ordered to take part in a de-radicalisation programme.
It’s still unclear whether there was just one attacker or whether others were in the van that crashed into people at the Berlin Pride march last night.
Image source, Getty ImagesUK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband says he is "horrified by the appalling attack in Berlin" and has spoken to Germany's foreign minister to express solidarity.
"My thoughts are with all those affected, and the entire LGBT+ community. The values of openness, tolerance and freedom are what unite us," he writes on social media.
It follows earlier comments from Defence Secretary Wes Streeting. The openly gay cabinet minister condemned the "absolutely horrific" attack and said it showed why LGBT events are still necessary.
Image source, PA MediaAlfonso Pantisano, the Berlin state government’s Queer Liaison Officer, says he was at the Brandenburg Gate last night when "everything changed in a few moments".
Yesterday "should have been a day of joy, visibility and freedom", but instead became "a day we will never forget", he writes on social media.
"To you, my dear community: I know that many of you are afraid right now. I don't want to pretend - I am, too. But you are not alone in this fear, in your grief, and in your anger," he says.
If you attended Berlin Pride or have been impacted by the incident, you can contact us in the following ways:
