Trial opens in Düsseldorf for Islamist knife attacks in Essen

The accused and the charges

The defendant, an 18-year-old Kosovar who was 17 at the time of the attacks, appeared in the high-security wing of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. Federal prosecutors have charged him with three counts of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, resisting law enforcement officers, and coercion. The trial began at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.

Sequence of attacks

According to the indictment, the attacks took place around nine months ago in Essen. The accused, a student at a vocational college, first stabbed a 45-year-old female teacher multiple times. He then attacked a janitor at a primary school and later a homeless man at a bus stop. The prosecution alleges the motives were Islamist: the teenager had been drawn into jihad against perceived unbelievers.

Searching for Jewish victims

After the initial attacks, the accused went to the Old Synagogue in Essen on two separate occasions, looking for Jews to kill, the indictment says. He found none and left both times. The federal prosecutor's statement described his actions as part of a jihad against non-believers.

Court proceedings

Due to the severity of the charges and the threat assessment, the trial is being held in a high-security courtroom. The case is being handled by the federal prosecutor's office, reflecting its terrorism dimension. The defendant faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.