Berlin attacker pledged allegiance to Islamic State in video before killing woman, injuring 31

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Berlin attacker pledged allegiance to Islamic State in video before killing woman, injuring 31
Berlin attacker shot dead after Pride rampage kills woman, injures 29: Merz demands security review
ContinuationBerlin police shoot dead suspect in Islamist attack on Pride event that killed one
A terrorist attack during the Christopher Street Day (CSD) event in Berlin on Saturday has left one woman dead and 31 people injured. The suspect, identified as Abdul B., was shot dead by police on Sunday after he drove a van into a crowd and attacked people with a machete.
The attack occurred on the fringes of the CSD parade in Berlin's Tiergarten park. According to reports, Abdul B. drove a rented minivan into a crowd of people, killing a 65-year-old Polish woman and injuring 31 others. After crashing the vehicle, he allegedly attacked more people with a machete before fleeing the scene.
German authorities confirmed on Tuesday that a video found on the suspect's phone shows him pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS). The video, recorded on the day of the attack, shows the man masked but is believed to be Abdul B. Speaking in Arabic, he is seen making a pledge of allegiance to the terrorist organization.
Abdul B., a 21-year-old German citizen with Lebanese roots, was known to authorities as an Islamist extremist. He had been under surveillance by the Berlin police and was classified as a "high-risk person" by an analysis tool used by the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). Despite this, he was able to carry out the attack.
The suspect had a history of extremist activities. In 2025, he traveled to Lebanon with the intention of going to Syria to join ISIL. He was detained upon his return to Germany and was convicted in May 2026 of planning a serious act of subversive violence. However, he received a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months.
According to reports from "Der Spiegel," the Berlin police had been monitoring Abdul B. and had even installed a camera opposite his residence. However, this surveillance did not prevent the attack. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt acknowledged that technical surveillance had been in place but questioned its adequacy.
The attack has sparked a debate in Germany about how to prevent such incidents in the future. Dobrindt has called for stronger measures against potential extremists, including electronic monitoring and preventive detention.
"Man kann das Risiko minimieren, aber man kann es nicht komplett ausschließen," Dobrindt said in an interview with ZDF's "Heute Journal" on Monday.
Dobrindt also mentioned that the suspect was under technical surveillance by the Berlin police before the attack. However, this surveillance was not sufficient to prevent the attack. "Ob die technische Überwachung ausreichend war, die das Land Berlin angewandt hat oder nicht, auch das wird betrachtet werden," Dobrindt said.
The debate about preventive measures has gained momentum, with some politicians calling for the use of electronic ankle monitors for potential extremists. Dobrindt's proposals include preventive detention for extremists and stricter youth criminal law.
The Berlin police have increased their presence at the city's CSD event in response to the attack. Meanwhile, the state prosecutor's office in Warsaw is also investigating the incident, as the victim was a Polish citizen.
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