A deadly van attack near Berlin’s Pride festival on July 26, 2026, killed one person and injured 29, with police killing the 21-year-old suspect, Abdul Ballout, after he charged at officers with a knife. The attack, linked to Islamist extremism, left the LGBTQ+ community and German society reeling.
For Ali Darwich, a 34-year-old Berlin-based police officer and gay Muslim influencer, the attack on the city’s Pride festival was a visceral assault on his identity. Born a Muslim, living as a gay man, working as a police officer,
he said, this terror attack touches so many aspects of who I am.
The van attack, which occurred near Brandenburg Gate, left one dead and 29 injured, with authorities confirming it as an Islamic extremist act. Darwich, who had attended the parade hours earlier, described feeling “desperate” as he grappled with the attack’s implications for his community and country.
The Attack and Its Immediate Aftermath
The assault unfolded Saturday night when a van rammed into a crowd during the Pride march, followed by a stabbing. Authorities identified the suspect as Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen with Lebanese roots, who was killed by police in a Berlin suburb on Sunday. The attack occurred hours after Darwich had marched in the parade, carrying a banner that read, Why are some people afraid of love but not of hate?
At the scene in Tiergarten park, mourners gathered to place flowers and share grief. This terror attack touches so many aspects of who I am,
he said, reflecting on his dual identity as a Muslim, a gay man, and a police officer. The incident has intensified fears of rising hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, which had already been protesting increasing bullying and discrimination.
The Suspect’s Background and Police Response
Police found him at an allotment garden in Spandau district on Sunday, where he allegedly attacked SEK officers with a blade. Despite emergency resuscitation efforts, he died at the scene.
Police confirmed the attack was an Islamic extremist act, though no group has claimed responsibility. Darwich, who had been planning to attend an afterparty, canceled his plans and returned home in sorrow. I asked myself, why as a police officer I did not run to the scene of the crash to help my colleagues,
he said, highlighting the emotional toll on first responders.
Community Reactions and Lingering Fears
In the wake of the attack, Berlin’s LGBTQ+ community rallied at the memorial site near the crash scene, where attendees hugged, placed flowers, and expressed solidarity. Demonstrations outside Brandenburg Gate drew crowds demanding protection from hate.
The incident has also reignited debates about security at public events. Darwich’s reflections on his own inaction—Why as a police officer I did not run to the scene
—highlight the personal and professional dilemmas faced by first responders in crisis situations.
Broader Implications for Germany
The attack has raised concerns about the safety of marginalized communities in Germany. I asked myself as a Muslim if our community will be exposed to even more racism now,
he said. His words resonate with a broader anxiety about the country’s social cohesion, particularly in the context of rising far-right sentiment and extremist activity.
The incident underscores the challenges of combating extremism in a diverse, multicultural society. For Darwich and others like him, the attack is not just a tragedy but a test of Berlin’s commitment to tolerance and inclusion.
As the city mourns, the question remains: How will Berlin recover from an attack that struck at the heart of its values? The answer may depend on whether the community can channel its grief into solidarity, rather than fear.
Related reading
