A German court has sentenced far-right extremist Stephan Balliet to life in prison for his attack on a synagogue in Halle during Yom Kippur services in October 2019. The 28-year-old was convicted of two counts of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder after killing a female passer-by and a man at a nearby kebab shop.
Balliet failed to breach the synagogue's heavy, bolted door, which prevented him from firing on 52 Jewish worshippers inside. The attack was described as nearly becoming Germany's worst anti-Semitic atrocity since the Nazi era.
During his five-month trial, Balliet expressed no remorse, denied the Holocaust, and laughed when it was mentioned in court. He stated, 'attacking the synagogue was not a mistake, they are my enemies,' and espoused a racist, misogynist ideology.
The gunman filmed the attack and broadcast it online for 35 minutes. His home-made gun repeatedly jammed. The cantor leading prayers saw Balliet on a surveillance monitor and quickly moved the congregation to safety.
Judges ruled Balliet was 'seriously culpable,' effectively barring early release. He cited inspiration from Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch mosque shooter. A psychiatrist noted Balliet had symptoms of schizophrenia, paranoia, and autism, but found him criminally responsible.
