BERLIN (AP) — A Syrian national, identified only as Khalaf A. due to German privacy regulations, was arrested in Berlin on Wednesday. He is accused of being an accomplice in the attempted murder and bodily harm during an attack that took place at the Holocaust Memorial on February 21, 2025. This incident left a Spanish tourist seriously injured.
Khalaf A. is suspected of having spent the afternoon prior to the assault with Wassim Al M., the man convicted of the stabbing. Federal prosecutors stated that he encouraged Al M. to follow through with his violent plan. Al M., who is also from Syria, was sentenced to 13 years in prison in March after being convicted of charges that included attempted murder and attempted membership in a foreign terrorist organization.
The Berlin district court found that Al M. traveled from Leipzig to Berlin specifically to execute an attack in the name of the Islamic State group. During the assault, he targeted the Holocaust Memorial because he believed that he would encounter individuals of Jewish faith at the site. The event culminated in him stabbing the Spanish tourist in the throat while shouting "Allahu akbar," meaning "God is great."
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, where the attack occurred, consists of 2,700 gray concrete slabs situated near the Brandenburg Gate, serving as a tribute to the 6 million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust. This location is a prominent cultural landmark in Berlin, marking an essential remembrance of the atrocities of World War II.
This stabbing incident took place just two days before national elections in Germany, during a period when migration issues were a focal point in the political discourse. The elections were marked by concerns stemming from a series of deadly attacks featuring immigrants, which heightened tensions and influenced public sentiment leading up to the vote.
The recent arrest of Khalaf A. adds another layer to the ongoing investigation into the planning and execution of the attack at the Holocaust Memorial. The actions of those involved raise serious questions regarding community safety and counter-terrorism measures in Germany, particularly as the country navigates the complexities of migration and integration within its society.
