Father of Berlin CSD attack suspect says he did not allow son to grow long beard, claims he was brainwashed

Wanted photo of Abdul B., the attacker from the CSD attack. Source: AFP/-

The attack on the Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade has shaken the German capital. The suspected attacker, Abdul B., was killed on Sunday evening. Shortly before his death, his father gave an interview, offering insights into the suspect's religious views.

Father's Account of Family and Religious Beliefs

Following the suspected Islamist attack on the sidelines of the CSD in Berlin, the father of the suspect, Tawfik B. (64), spoke to Spiegel. He commented on his son Abdul B. and his possible motives.

Regarding the family's religious beliefs, the father stated that although his daughters wear the hijab, they are "not extremely religious." He added: "We are Shia. We do not support the Islamic State (IS)." According to Tawfik B., his son, however, "loved" the Sunnis.

Disagreements Over Appearance and Extremism

Some time ago, the father asked Abdul B. what he thought about the IS. The son allegedly insisted that he considered the terrorist group "bad."

However, Abdul B. argued with his father about his hair and beard. "I did not allow him to wear a long beard," said Tawfik B. The father apparently considered this a sign of extremism.

Family's Grief and Shock

The sisters, according to the father, have been crying since Saturday evening. "His mother is going crazy, I haven't slept or eaten anything since I heard the news."

Father's Description of His Son

Tawfik B. described his son as "generous, emotional, loving," with the "heart of a child." When asked why he apparently still committed such an act, the father offered only one possible explanation: "He was brainwashed."

Final Phone Call

On Saturday, the father spoke on the phone with Abdul B.: "He called me and we talked normally, like every day. He said he missed me and wished he were with us in Lebanon now." According to his own statements, Tawfik B. travels back to Lebanon once a year to visit relatives.

Background on the Attack

In the attack in Berlin's Tiergarten on Saturday, a woman was killed and 29 other people were injured. The 21-year-old suspect was shot dead on Sunday during a police operation. The Federal Prosecutor's Office is investigating a "suspected Islamist act" and is examining possible masterminds or accomplices.

Note: The statements from the Spiegel interview cannot currently be verified.