Abdul Ballout, a known extremist, opted for violence instead of rehabilitation, leading to a deadly attack.

The alleged attacker, Abdul Ballout, was previously in judicial custody and was supposed to participate in a deradicalization program, where he reportedly provided ‘purposeful answers.’ He is accused of killing at least one woman and injuring several others during the Berlin CSD event.

Ballout had been under surveillance by state security and police due to his radical Islamist ties and preparation for terrorist acts. Despite a suspended sentence of one year and ten months, he was released on probation while required to attend deradicalization sessions, which he attended without discussing any attack plans.