Police shoot dead Berlin Pride car-ramming attack suspect

German police have shot dead the suspect in a car-ramming attack on Berlin’s Pride march, ending a 24-hour manhunt.

Ballout had a criminal conviction for which he received a suspended sentence of one year and 10 months. According to German media, he was convicted of “preparing a serious act of subversive violence” after a failed attempt to join ISIL (ISIS).

Although investigations are ongoing and questions are being asked about how Ballout was able to carry out the attack despite being known to police, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner expressed relief that the manhunt was over.

Despite having little sympathy for LGBTQ causes, far-right figures have been quick to use the incident to support their anti-immigration agenda.

Martin Hess, a lawmaker in the Alternative for Germany party, denounced the attack as a result of “a complete failure of the government’s security policies”.