The 19-year-old Syrian man arrested for stabbing a Spanish tourist at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial may have been plotting to attack Jewish people, according to police. The incident happened on Friday evening when the assailant assaulted the 30-year-old victim from behind before fleeing. Nearby, police apprehended the suspect, who was found with blood-stained hands, a prayer rug, a Quran, and the knife believed to have been used in the attack.
Following the assault, the victim suffered serious neck injuries and underwent surgery but has since been stabilized and placed in an induced coma. Authorities are investigating whether the attack could be connected to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, although they have not found any direct links to extremist groups or individuals. Investigators are also exploring the possibility of the suspect suffering from mental health issues, as he was previously unknown to police and had no criminal record.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the attack, labeling it an "abhorrent and brutal crime," and emphasized that such violent offenders will be deported back to Syria if found guilty. Recent months have seen a spate of violent incidents in Germany attributed to migrants, prompting immigration to become a significant topic in the upcoming federal elections.
The Holocaust Memorial, dedicated to honoring the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis, features 2,711 concrete slabs and stands as a significant site in Berlin. Following the stabbing incident, authorities in Stockholm arrested three individuals near the Israeli Embassy on suspicion of planning similar violent acts, though these cases are not believed to be connected.
Following the assault, the victim suffered serious neck injuries and underwent surgery but has since been stabilized and placed in an induced coma. Authorities are investigating whether the attack could be connected to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, although they have not found any direct links to extremist groups or individuals. Investigators are also exploring the possibility of the suspect suffering from mental health issues, as he was previously unknown to police and had no criminal record.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned the attack, labeling it an "abhorrent and brutal crime," and emphasized that such violent offenders will be deported back to Syria if found guilty. Recent months have seen a spate of violent incidents in Germany attributed to migrants, prompting immigration to become a significant topic in the upcoming federal elections.
The Holocaust Memorial, dedicated to honoring the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis, features 2,711 concrete slabs and stands as a significant site in Berlin. Following the stabbing incident, authorities in Stockholm arrested three individuals near the Israeli Embassy on suspicion of planning similar violent acts, though these cases are not believed to be connected.
