Investigators in Germany are reportedly examining a second mobile phone belonging to Abdul Ballout, the suspect in the attack on a Christopher Street Day (CSD) event in Berlin, according to Tagesspiegel. The move suggests authorities are looking into whether Ballout acted under someone else's direction.
The Berlin-based newspaper reported on Monday that the evaluation of the second device is underway. The investigation appears to be focused on determining if the suspect received instructions or guidance related to the attack, which targeted the city's annual Pride celebration.
According to separate reporting from BILD, Ballout allegedly used a toy weapon to deceive police officers during the incident. The tabloid claims this tactic allowed him to bypass security measures before the attack unfolded in the Tiergarten area.
Meanwhile, WELT reported that movement data from Ballout's primary phone shows a zigzag route taken on his way to the Tiergarten. The erratic path may indicate he was scouting the area or attempting to avoid detection prior to the assault, though the outlet did not confirm a specific motive.
The attack has prompted public mourning and political responses in Germany. rbb24 noted that a vigil was held in the Tiergarten to honor the victims of the CSD attack. Additionally, katholisch.de reported that a figure named Schepers called on local communities to become safer spaces for queer individuals in the wake of the violence.
The examination of the second phone could be pivotal in establishing whether Ballout acted alone or as part of a broader plot. Authorities have not yet released official findings from the device.
What to watch next: Whether the analysis of the second phone yields evidence of accomplices or external direction, and how that shapes the ongoing criminal case against Ballout.
