FUNDACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO 96 - ENGLISH

65 INTERNATIONAL A woman died and 31 other peo- ple were injured after being run over during LGBT Pride celebra- tions in Berlin on the night of 25 July. The incident occurred around 22:00 in Tiergarten park, near the Brandenburg Gate, when a van struck several pedes- trians. After the vehicle attack, the alle- ged perpetrator reportedly attacked with a bladed weapon before fleeing. The main suspect was identified as Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen of Lebanese origin. Following the attack, se- curity forces launched a major search and released his description and photograph. The search lasted almost 24 hours. Ballout was located the following day at an allotment complex in Berlin’s Spandau district. According to police, the suspect approached officers carrying a bladed weapon, prompting them to use their fi- rearms. Emergency services attempted to resuscitate him, but he died at the scene. German authorities consider that there are indications of an Islamist motive. In- terior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said after the attack that all signs pointed to an Islamist terrorist attack. Investigators are now seeking to establish the precise motive and whether the suspect acted alone. A SUSPECT WITH PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS Ballout was already known to the autho- rities. According to information released by prosecutors and German media, he ONE WOMAN DIES AND 31 PEOPLE ARE INJURED IN AN ATTACK DURING PRIDE CELEBRATIONS IN BERLIN »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» ATTACK IN BERLIN had previously been convicted of offen- ces related to attempts to travel to Syria to join Islamic State (IS). He also had con- victions for other offences. The young man was at liberty while a prosecution appeal against his sentence was pending and was participating in a deradicalisation programme. This back- ground has raised questions about how people previously linked to Islamist ex- tremism are monitored. The investigation continues to establish all the details of the attack. Outstanding questions include whether Ballout ac- ted on his own initiative and the preci- se role of the weapons used during the assault. The attack led to the cancellation of some Christopher Street Day (CSD) events, part of one of Europe’s largest LGBT Pride celebrations. The area near the Brandenburg Gate was cordoned off while investigators examined the vehicle used in the attack. In the following hours, members of the public and the LGBT community gathe- red near the scene to pay tribute to the woman killed and those injured. The incident also revived debate in Ber- lin about the jihadist threat and security at large gatherings, in a city that has su- ffered other attacks in public spaces in recent years.