A 19 -year -old Syrian man suspected of stabbing a Spanish tourist in the Berlin Holocaust memorial had planned for several weeks to kill the Jewish people, believe the Berlin police.
The attack took place Friday evening, the attacker approaching the 30 -year -old victim from behind before stabbing him and fleeing the premises.
A man was arrested nearby after the police have noticed blood stains on his hands and clothes.
The suspect wore a prayer carpet, a copy of the Koran and the weapon suspected in his backpack, “suggesting a religious motivation,” the police said.
After being taken to the hospital, the victim was put in an induced coma, but his life is no longer in danger.
Police said they are examining the possible links with the current conflict of the Middle East – but have said that there is currently no proof of links with groups or individuals.
They also study if the suspect suffers from mental illness.
The Berlin Holocaust Memorial includes 2,711 stone slabs and was opened in 2005 to commemorate the six million European Jews murdered by the Nazi regime.
A few hours after the attack in the German capital, Swedish police said they had apprehended three men near the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, suspected of preparing to commit violent crimes. We don’t think incidents are linked.
The stab wounds took place only two days before the federal elections in Germany.
