Knife attack at the Holocaust memorial: Syrian in court for attempted murder

Knife attack at the Holocaust memorial: Syrian in court for attempted murder

On February 21, 2025, a serious knife attack occurred on a 30-year-old Spanish tourist at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin-Mitte. The suspected perpetrator, a 19-year-old Syrian, was arrested by the authorities a short time later. His indictment has now been approved by the State Security Senate of the Superior Court, and the Federal Prosecutor's Office is investigating attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. However, it is still unclear whether the court hearing will begin in the near future.

The incident, which alarmed the security situation in Germany, is classified as radical Islamist and anti-Semitic in motivation. According to information from rbb24 The 19-year-old sees his victim as a representative of a society that he rejects. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has already determined that murder criteria such as base motives and treachery are met. The type of violence suggests that he shares the ideology of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia.

Details about the attack and the investigation

The victim was stabbed from behind during the attack and suffered life-threatening injuries that required emergency surgery. He was temporarily in an induced coma, but has now overcome the critical condition and is out of danger, reports tagesschau.de.

The attacker's motive is also revealed by his own statement that he has been planning to "kill Jews" for several weeks. After the attack, he fled, but was arrested a few hours later near the Holocaust Memorial with his hands covered in blood. During the arrest, police officers found a Koran, a prayer mat and the suspected murder weapon in his backpack.

Background of the perpetrator

The young man lives in Leipzig and came to Germany in 2023 as an unaccompanied minor refugee; his asylum application was recognized at the end of 2023. He was previously known to the police for minor offenses. The Federal Prosecutor's Office also sees this incident as endangering the internal security of the Federal Republic of Germany. In this context, the discussion about the increase in radicalization and extremism after the events on October 7, 2023 is repeatedly taken up, which is highlighted in various analyses, such as in the publication by bpb.de.

Current reports and analyzes on the security situation and prevention work in the area of ​​extremism show that a deeper understanding of the ideological causes is essential to prevent future acts of violence. The confrontation with anti-Semitism and Islamist extremism also plays a central role in the debate about internal security in Germany.