Berlin terror probe intensifies after Christopher Street Day van attack
Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemns “heinous” assault on LGBTQ+ community as political debate on security and migration heats up ahead of state elections.
German federal prosecutors have assumed control of the investigation into the vehicle attack at Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade, classifying the incident as an act of Islamist terrorism. The move, confirmed by Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig, follows the identification of the main suspect, 21-year-old Abdul B., whose history of radicalisation and online propaganda for the Islamic State (IS) has drawn significant attention.
The attack occurred on Saturday night around 10 pm near the Brandenburg Gate and Tiergarten park, where a white van was driven into a crowd attending the closing party of the LGBTQ+ parade. The vehicle, later confirmed to be privately owned, struck several people before crashing into a tree. The incident resulted in one fatality, a woman, and 29 injuries, several of them severe, though police confirmed by Sunday afternoon that no victims remained in life-threatening condition.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt identified the suspect as Abdul B., a German citizen of Lebanese heritage who had been known to authorities for a high number of previous attacks. Authorities believe the suspect also attacked individuals with a blade-like weapon, possibly a machete, before fleeing the scene. The manhunt concluded on Sunday evening when police shot and killed Abdul B. in a garden allotment in the Spandau borough after he rushed officers with a knife.
Prosecutors revealed that Abdul B. had shared IS propaganda online and had recently attempted to join the militant group in Syria, although he later distanced himself from the organisation. Records indicate he travelled to Lebanon in May 2025 with intent to join IS in Syria, was arrested there in July 2025, and served a three-month sentence for incitement to religious conflict before returning to Germany.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack as “heinous,” describing it as an assault on society. The incident has already begun to influence the political landscape, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party polling highly in upcoming state elections. The attack is expected to intensify national debates regarding migration and security, topics central to the AfD’s platform, while vigils at the Brandenburg Gate saw hundreds gather to mourn and express solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
