Life Sentence for Afghan Man in German Knife Attack

An Afghan man with alleged Islamist motives has received a life sentence from a German court for a fatal knife attack during an anti-Islam rally. The incident resulted in the death of a police officer and injuries to five others in May 2024.

Identified as Sulaiman A to preserve his privacy, the defendant was convicted of using a large hunting knife to attack participants at the rally organized by the anti-Islam group Pax Europa in Mannheim. The knife attack culminated in the stabbing of a police officer, who later died from the injuries, highlighting a tense atmosphere around immigration and security in Germany.

Despite connections to the Islamic State group, Sulaiman A was not charged with terrorism-related offenses. Instead, he faced one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder, following his arrest in June 2024 after being released from intensive care.

(With inputs from agencies.)