Police have issued an update on the suspect of the Berlin pride car ramming attack, now revealed to be of Lebanese background and was previously known to the police for a prior sentencing.
It comes as police have also confirmed interest in a second suspect, working with forces across the nation, acting "as quickly as possible".
Hundreds of thousands of people had gathered peacefully in the German capital for the annual Christopher Street Day celebrations yesterday evening, before the suspect allegedly crashed a van and attacked attendees with a knife before fleeing on foot.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt today confirmed the suspect, named as Abdul Ballout, is a German citizen of Lebanese background, who was known to police and had previously "committed a number of crimes"
According to German media, he had previously tried to join the Islamic State group, having travelled to Lebanon in 2025, and was arrested on his return to Berlin.
The 21-year-old had been in pre-trial detention until May 2026 and was ordered to take part in a de-radicalisation programme.
Mr Dobrindt added: "Everything we are seeing here indicates that we have experienced an Islamist terror attack."
Ballout is said to be on the run, with a large number of officers from Berlin police and the federal police working to find him.
A manhunt is underway for Abdul Ballout who is known to police
| REUTERSAdditionally, Mr Dobrindt confirmed one person died and 29 people had been injured in the attack.
Mayor Kai Wegner said the festival site "was not attacked because the perpetrator wasn't able to make it there, because that had been secured by police".
However, 400m from the event site, people on their way to or from the event, as well as others walking around became targets of the car ramming spree.
The Mayor said yesterday was a "dark day", but before the horror incident it was a "bright, colourful day, showing just how open and diverse the city is".
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German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt today confirmed the suspect, named as Abdul Ballout, is a German citizen of Lebanese background
|REUTERS
He says Berlin was showing itself "as a city of freedom" and that "colourful is actually a lovely thing to be".
Mr Dobrindt warned against ruling out the possibility of "copycat attacks", and announced that the country's threat level will be raised in light of the incident.
Police are now searching for the suspect in train stations, airports and border crossings, according to the minister.
He described the suspect as having "rammed into a crowd with a car" last night.
Several people injured at a Berlin LGBT event after 'vehicle drove into crowd' | REUTERSThe suspect "then attacked the crowd with some type of blade, it might have been a machete, and also severely injured those people", he added.
Mr Dobrindt said he was "dumbstruck" and "deeply shaken by these horrific events".
He added that his thoughts, grief and prayers are with the victims, their loved ones and the injured.
"We hope there is a chance that those still fighting for their lives will be able to overcome this difficult situation," he said.