Police kill suspect after Berlin Pride attack leaves one dead and many injured
A van ramming and stabbing near Berlin's Pride festival killed one person and wounded several others; police shot the 21-year-old suspect, while community members mourned and called for unity.
Berlin police said a 21-year-old German citizen of Lebanese descent was killed Sunday after he approached officers with a sharp weapon during a van-ramming and stabbing attack near the Tiergarten park Pride celebration. The incident on Saturday night left one person dead and multiple others injured, and authorities described it as an Islamist-motivated terrorist act.
The attack prompted an impromptu vigil at the scene, where participants placed flowers and expressed shock and resolve. Andre Lehmann, a senior official of the national LGBTQ+ association LSVD+, said the assault "hits the heart of the queer community" and highlighted a recent rise in anti-queer hate crimes in Germany.
Ali Darwich, a 34-year-old gay Muslim police officer who was present at the festival, described the event as an assault on the city’s values of diversity, tolerance and freedom. He said the incident forced him to confront fears about safety for LGBTQ+ people, Muslims and police officers alike.
Witnesses, including a visitor from the United Kingdom, left flowers at a makeshift memorial and affirmed their determination to remain visible and resilient. Police continue to investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack.