Berlin Pride ramming: Suspect shot dead in police operation

https://p.dw.com/p/5HlqWThe suspect believed to be responsible for the car-ramming attack was shot dead on Sunday evening in a police operation in Spandau, Berlin authorities saidImage: Ralf Hirschberger/AFPAdvertisementSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know Suspect shot dead in police operation, Berlin authorities say Interior minister Dobrindt says incident being treated as 'Islamist terrorist attack' Merz urges CSD supporters 'not to be intimidated' One person was killed, 29 others injured Several people are in a life-threatening condition in hospital Follow DW's coverage for the latest developments on the manhunt and reaction to Saturday night's attack.

Skip next section Suspect in attack during Berlin Pride shot dead in police operation — Berlin authorities07/26/2026July 26, 2026Suspect in attack during Berlin Pride shot dead in police operation — Berlin authoritiesBerlin's Senate Department for Interior Affairs confirmed that the fugitive suspect in a Saturday van ramming during Berlin Pride was shot dead in a police operation on Sunday. The suspect's death was previously reported by various media outlets. According to the reports, the police carried out the operation in a garden allotment in Spandau on the western outskirts of Berlin.

The department functions as the Interior Ministry for the city-state of Berlin. https://p.dw.

com/p/5Hn7HSkip next section Van ramming suspect shot dead in Spandau — media reports07/26/2026July 26, 2026Van ramming suspect shot dead in Spandau — media reportsGerman media are reporting that the suspect in Saturday's van ramming attack was shot dead during police operations, but there is yet to be confirmation from authorities. Police were deployed to a garden allotment in the Spandau borough on the western outskirts of Berlin, a spokesperson for the city-state's public prosecutor's office was cited as saying. The spokesperson said that police operations are ongoing, adding that authorities could not yet comment on whether there had been any arrests.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Hn52Skip next section Van ramming suspect tried to join 'Islamic State' group — prosecutors07/26/2026July 26, 2026Van ramming suspect tried to join 'Islamic State' group — prosecutorsJudicial authorities confirmed earlier media reports that the suspect in the Saturday van ramming in Berlin had made multiple failed attempts to leave Germany and join the "Islamic State" (IS) militant group.

The suspect had initially attempted to travel to Mauritania through Turkey, but ultimately traveled from Turkey to Lebanon in an attempt to make his way to Syria to join IS, the public prosecutor general's office of the city-state of Berlin said. According to the statement, he then made contact with multiple individuals in Lebanon that he believed were members of IS. The suspect was sentenced to three months in prison by a Lebanese military court for "inciting religious and confessional conflict," among other things.

He returned to Germany in November 2025 after the end of his prison term and was again arrested at Berlin International Airport. The suspect then spent months in pre-trial detention in Germany. https://p.

dw.com/p/5Hn1wSkip next section IN PICTURES: Brandenburg Gate gathering after deadly van ramming07/26/2026July 26, 2026IN PICTURES: Brandenburg Gate gathering after deadly van rammingHundreds of people gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to pay respects to the victims of Saturday's car ramming attack. The gathering mourners held a minute of silence and lay down flowers at the iconic site in the German capital.

The area was partially cordoned off and a police helicopter circled the perimeter. People gathered at Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate for a demonstration in support of LGBTQ+ rights after a car ramming hit a crowd at Berlin PrideImage: Markus Schreiber/AP Photo/picture alliance Mourners carried Pride flags and banners reading 'Hate is deadly' and 'Protect queer lives'Image: Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo/picture alliance People lay down flowers at the Brandenburg Gate to pay their respects to the victims of the Saturday ramming attackImage: Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo/picture alliance https://p.dw.

com/p/5HmxkSkip next section Attack fuels security debate across German political spectrum07/26/2026July 26, 2026Attack fuels security debate across German political spectrumThe attack on Berlin's Christopher Street Day (CSD) event has triggered strong reactions across Germany's political spectrum, with leaders condemning the violence while offering sharply different assessments of its causes and implications. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier described the incident as an assault on the country's fundamental values. "This act is an attack on our open society, on our way of life and on our ability to live together," he said.

Steinmeier added he was, "shaken and outraged." How has the conservative CDU reacted? The incident has also reignited debate over Germany's security policies and c