Germany’s federal prosecutor has charged a 19-year-old Syrian refugee, identified as Wassim Al M., with attempted murder, dangerous bodily harm, and attempted membership in the Islamic State (IS) following a February 21, 2025, stabbing at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial. The attack, which seriously injured a 30-year-old Spanish tourist, was allegedly motivated by antisemitic intent, with the suspect planning to “kill Jews” for weeks, prosecutors said. Wassim Al M. reportedly sent a photo to IS members before the attack, aiming for the group to claim responsibility.

The assault occurred at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a 2,700-slab site near the Brandenburg Gate, commemorating the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. The suspect, who arrived in Germany in 2023 as an unaccompanied minor and was granted asylum, lived in Leipzig. He was arrested three hours after the attack, with blood on his hands and clothes, carrying a knife, Quran, prayer rug, and Quranic verses dated February 21.

The incident, two days before Germany’s national election, fueled debates on immigration, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) doubling its vote share amid five deadly attacks by immigrants in nine months. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for severe punishment and deportation. Posts on X, including from @Osint613 and @FlorianFlade, highlighted the suspect’s IS ties, amplifying concerns about rising antisemitic crimes, which reached 5,164 in 2023.

Also Read: Islamic State-Backed Rebels Slaughter 34 in Congo Church Attack

Also Read: Nadda Apologizes to Kharge After Heated Rajya Sabha Exchange