Credited from: INDIATIMES
Berlin police are actively searching for 21-year-old Abdul B, identified as the suspect in a deadly attack during the annual Berlin Pride event on July 26. The incident, which occurred around 10 p.m. local time, involved a vehicle plowing into a crowd gathered at Tiergarten Park, resulting in the death of one woman and injuries to at least 29 others, some critically. Following the attack, festivities associated with the Christopher Street Day celebrations were promptly cancelled, according to Reuters and BBC.
Abdul B has been reported as linked to Islamist extremism and was known to police prior to this attack. He, alongside potential accomplices, allegedly fled the scene after the vehicle struck attendees. Witness accounts revealed that some individuals were also stabbed, intensifying the emergency response to the incident, say reports from India Times and Channel News Asia.
Authorities have labeled the occurrence as an "Islamist terror attack," leading to heightened security measures across Berlin, particularly at transport hubs and public places. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the attacker was suspected of using a machete on part of the crowd, and raised concerns about the implications for public safety at such large gatherings, as reported by Channel News Asia and Reuters.
In a sweeping response, police quickly located the suspect's vehicle, a white Citroen Space Tourer, which had crashed following the attack. After an extensive manhunt, Abdul B was subsequently shot dead by police later that same evening after he reportedly advanced on them with a weapon, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.
The attack has spurred outrage and calls for justice among many in Berlin and beyond, with politicians from various parties condemning the violence. Vigils are being held to honor the victims, with many calling for unity against such acts aimed at dividing communities, as highlighted by Reuters and BBC.