Berlin police have arrested a man believed to be an accomplice in the stabbing of a Spanish tourist at the city's Holocaust Memorial in 2025. The suspect, identified as Khalaf A. under German privacy rules, is a Syrian national accused of being an accessory to attempted murder and bodily harm, according to federal prosecutors.
Details of the Arrest
The arrest took place in the German capital on Wednesday. Prosecutors allege that Khalaf A. spent the afternoon before the attack with the convicted perpetrator, Wassim Al M., and encouraged him to carry out the plan. The attack occurred on February 21, 2025, two days before a national election where migration was a central issue.
The Original Attack
Wassim Al M., also a Syrian citizen, was convicted in March 2026 on charges including attempted murder and attempted membership in a foreign terrorist organization. He received a 13-year prison sentence. The Berlin district court found that he traveled from Leipzig to Berlin to commit an attack in the name of the Islamic State group. He chose the Holocaust Memorial because he believed he would find people of Jewish faith there. He stabbed the Spanish tourist in the throat and shouted "Allahu akbar" before being subdued.
Significance of the Memorial
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a field of 2,700 gray concrete slabs near the Brandenburg Gate, honors the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. The incident occurred amid heightened political tensions over immigration following a series of deadly attacks involving immigrants in Germany.
Prosecutors continue to investigate the case, and Khalaf A. is expected to appear before a judge to determine his custody status.
