Berlin Holocaust memorial attacker given 13 years in prison

"The defendant approached the 30-year-old victim from behind and "inflicted a 14-centimeter-long (more than five-inch) cut to his throat with a knife." The victim was badly wounded but survived the attack."

"Prosecutors accused the defendant of having "internalized IS ideology, rejected the Western way of life," and being "convinced that a holy war against infidels must be waged worldwide." The court's presiding judge Doris Husch said he had committed the crime "in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group.""

"The 20-year-old confessed to the crime during the trial, saying he had been motivated by his radicalization and belief he was acting with a religious mission. "My shame is too deep, I ask for forgiveness," he told the court, according to his lawyer."

A Berlin court sentenced a 20-year-old Syrian national to 13 years in prison for stabbing a Spanish tourist at the Holocaust memorial in February 2025. The defendant inflicted a 14-centimeter cut to the victim's throat with a knife. He was convicted of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, and attempted membership of a terrorist organization. Prosecutors established that the defendant had internalized IS ideology, rejected Western values, and believed in waging holy war against infidels. The court determined he committed the crime in the name of the Islamic State group, targeting someone of Jewish faith. The defendant confessed during trial, citing radicalization and religious mission as motivation. Judges applied adult law despite his age at the time, based on his psychological maturity.

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