A Syrian refugee was arrested for the stabbing at Berlin's Holocaust memorial, with prosecutors revealing his intention to "kill Jews." The 19-year-old suspect had been planning the attack for weeks, seemingly influenced by the Middle East conflict, leading him to select this location, according to prosecutors.
Shortly after the stabbing, the police apprehended the suspect, with blood on his hands and trousers. Among his possessions were a prayer rug, a Quran, a note with Quranic verses dated the previous day, and the suspected weapon in his backpack, indicating a religious motivation.
The Spanish tourist, aged 30, underwent emergency surgery for neck injuries and was placed in an induced coma, although he was no longer in critical condition.
Security concerns have dominated pre-election discussions, with high-profile attacks involving migrant suspects overshadowing economic issues. The surge in support for the anti-migrant AfD party is anticipated in Sunday's election, with the AfD poised to secure second place behind the conservative CDU/CSU bloc.
In response to recent attacks, including the stabbing in January attributed to an Afghan immigrant and the Christmas market car ramming by a long-term resident sympathizer of the AfD, the government is faced with tightening migration policies.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the necessity of strict punishment for the perpetrator and immediate deportation after serving the sentence, stressing the commitment to deport violent offenders back to Syria.
The suspect, who entered Germany as an unaccompanied minor, had no known criminal record in Berlin but had minor prior offenses in Saxony. The Saxon interior ministry did not comment further on his minor infractions.