A 19-year-old Syrian national, who allegedly attempted to murder a Spanish tourist at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial in an act of jihad, has gone on trial at the Moabit Criminal Court.
Wassim Al M is accused of approaching the 30-year-old victim from behind amongst the memorial's concrete steles on a day in February and inflicting a 14-centimetre-long wound to his throat with a knife.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect, shouting 'Allahu akbar' (God is greatest), carried out the assault as part of a bid to wage a 'holy war against infidels'. The victim, who was visiting the site with two friends, sustained life-threatening injuries but managed to stagger out before collapsing in front of the memorial.
Berlin Police confirmed the man was arrested at the scene with blood stains on his hands. He was reportedly carrying a copy of the Koran and a prayer rug.
ISIS Ideology and Premeditation
The court heard that Wassim Al M had 'internalised IS ideology' and rejected the Western way of life. Motivated by his support for the Islamic State group and 'driven by the escalation of the Middle East conflict', he had travelled from his home in Leipzig specifically to carry out the attack.
In a chilling act of premeditation, he allegedly sent a photo of himself to IS members via a messaging service shortly before the assault, offering his services as a member of the terrorist organisation.
Broader Political Repercussions in Germany
The assault sent shockwaves through Germany, occurring just two days before a general election where immigration and security were dominant campaign issues. The case has intensified a heated national debate about immigration and the return of Syrians to their homeland.
According to asylum records seen by Bild, Wassim Al M arrived in Germany as an unaccompanied minor in 2023 and was granted asylum. Germany is home to approximately one million Syrians, many of whom arrived during the 2015 refugee crisis.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has seized upon such high-profile crimes to call for deportations. The German government is now in talks with Syria's new Islamist-led administration to resume deportations of violent criminals.
