Berlin Pride attack classified as Islamist terror by German Interior Minister
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirms ideological motive behind Saturday night’s car-ramming near Tiergarten park, prompting widespread political condemnation and a scheduled vigil at the Brandenburg Gate.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed on Sunday that all available evidence points to an Islamist terrorist motive behind the car-ramming attack at Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride celebration. Speaking at the scene, Dobrindt stated that the incident, which resulted in one fatality and 29 injuries, was driven by Islamist ideology. The attack occurred late on Saturday near Tiergarten park, disrupting one of Europe’s largest Pride events and prompting an immediate and intensive police response.
Authorities are currently hunting for the prime suspect, identified as 21-year-old Abdul B. Police described the man as thin, approximately 1.90 metres tall, with black hair, and last seen wearing a black hoodie and white trousers. German media reports, including those from Bild and Spiegel, indicate that Abdul B. is a supporter of the so-called Islamic State (IS) group and has a prior criminal conviction for preparing a serious act of subversive violence. He reportedly travelled to the Middle East last year in a failed attempt to join the group.
The white Citroen minivan involved in the attack remains at the scene, heavily damaged after crashing into a tree. Police believe that one or more individuals left the vehicle after the impact and fled the area. Several victims sustained stab wounds during the incident, leading investigators to consider the possibility of accomplices. Searches are underway at Berlin train stations as part of the ongoing manhunt, with police appealing for public assistance in locating the suspect.
The attack has drawn swift condemnation from the highest levels of German government. Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to bring those responsible to justice, while President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed being shaken and outraged by the violence. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the act as a brutal assault on a tolerant and peaceful gathering. In response to the tragedy, the speaker of parliament, Julia Kloeckner, ordered the flag at the German Bundestag to be lowered to half mast.
International allies and domestic communities have also reacted strongly. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen, along with leaders from the Netherlands, France, Italy, Sweden, and the UK, expressed their deepest sympathies to the victims. A vigil is scheduled for 2:00 pm local time on Sunday at the Brandenburg Gate, where members of the queer community and the wider public will gather to mourn. Meanwhile, far-right lawmaker Martin Hess of the AfD blamed the attack on a failure of security policies, reigniting debates on immigration and public safety in Germany.
