German authorities announced on Tuesday that investigators have uncovered a video appearing to be a formal claim of responsibility from the suspect involved in a fatal attack near Berlin's Pride festival. The 21-year-old suspect, identified as Abdul Ballout, was killed during a police confrontation on Sunday, one day after he allegedly drove a van into a crowd gathered near the festival's closing party and attacked individuals with a machete. The incident resulted in the death of one Polish woman and left 31 other people injured.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that officials are currently evaluating a cellphone recovered from the van, which contained a video of a disguised individual believed to be Ballout. The German federal prosecutor's office confirmed the existence of this footage, noting that the suspect declared his intention to carry out the attack and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Further evidence, described by Dobrindt as "references" to the Islamic State, was also discovered during a search of an apartment.
Investigations into Ballout's background have revealed that the suspect, who was born in Germany and held Lebanese roots, traveled to Lebanon in 2025 with the stated goal of reaching Syria to join the Islamic State. Records indicate he had established contact with several individuals presumed to be members of the group. Questions have mounted over how the suspect was able to move freely despite a conviction for actions including his attempted links to IS.
In response to the security failure, Dobrindt argued that individuals identified as dangerous should not be released on suspended sentences and criticized the use of juvenile law in cases such as Ballout's, labeling it "dubious." While he advocated for the use of ankle bracelets to restrict the movement of high-risk individuals, the minister emphasized that there is no such thing as "absolute security."
