Divers search Berlin's Spree for machete used in CSD attack
One month after the attack on Berlin's CSD, police divers are searching the Spree for the machete belonging to perpetrator Abdul Ballout.
Spree closed: investigators search for murder weapon from CSD attack
One month after the fatal attack on Berlin's CSD, police divers searched the Spree on Tuesday for the machete belonging to the perpetrator. According to BILD, the section of the river between Ebertsbrücke, Kupfergraben and Weidendammer Brücke near Museum Island had been completely closed to shipping in the morning.
Officers in dry suits descended from a water police boat into the murky water. The weapon being sought is apparently the machete with which attacker Abdul Ballout (21) attacked several CSD visitors on 25 July after a tree stopped his journey through Tiergarten in a van. In the attack, one person was killed and 31 others were seriously injured. Five of them were additionally attacked with the machete. The weapon has remained unfound until now.
A spokesman for the Federal Prosecutor's Office (GBA) confirmed the operation to BILD: "This concerns measures in connection with the attack on Berlin's CSD." They were searching for "possible objects that the former suspect may have thrown away."
After the attack, Ballout fled. On 26 July he was shot dead by SEK police officers in a small garden colony in Spandau. According to the GBA spokesman, investigations against Ballout were discontinued with his death. However, investigations into possible accomplices and masterminds continue.
On 4 August, Ballout, described as an IS fanatic, was buried under heavy police protection at the cemetery in Gatow.
Source: BILD