German Authorities Arrest Suspected Accomplice in 2025 Berlin Holocaust Memorial Knife Attack
German federal prosecutors have arrested a 37-year-old Syrian man on suspicion of aiding the February 2025 knife attack at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial that left a Spanish tourist critically injured.
The arrest
In a predawn operation on Wednesday, German federal prosecutors and Berlin state security police arrested Khalaf A., a 37-year-old Syrian national, in the Lichtenberg district of Berlin. The Karlsruhe-based Federal Public Prosecutor General (Generalbundesanwaltschaft) announced that he is "urgently suspected" of aiding attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm in connection with the February 2025 knife attack at the nearby Holocaust Memorial. The suspect was brought before a judge at the Federal Court of Justice later that morning, who will determine whether he remains in pre-trial detention. Authorities also searched residences in Lichtenberg and Hellersdorf as part of the ongoing investigation.
The original attack
On the evening of 21 February 2025, Wassim Al M., a then-19-year-old Syrian, attacked a Spanish tourist with a knife among the concrete stelae of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in central Berlin. The victim suffered life-threatening neck wounds and required emergency surgery, but survived. The Berlin Court of Appeal later found that Al M. had traveled from Leipzig specifically to carry out an Islamist-motivated attack targeting non-Muslims, ideally Israelis or Jews, under the banner of the Islamic State (IS) group. The court described the assault as radically Islamist and explicitly antisemitic.
- Wassim Al M. attacks a Spanish tourist with a knife at the Holocaust Memorial.
- Wassim Al M. sentenced to 13 years in prison for attempted murder and terrorist organization membership.
- Khalaf A. arrested as suspected accomplice for encouraging the attack.
The suspect’s alleged role
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Khalaf A. spent the afternoon before the attack with Al M. and encouraged him to carry out his plan. The two men were in contact in the days leading up to the crime, and prosecutors believe A.’s encouragement played a direct role in the attacker’s decision to proceed. However, investigators currently see no evidence that the pair were part of a larger organized network.
Sentencing and conviction
In March 2026, the Berlin Court of Appeal sentenced Wassim Al M., now 20 years old, to 13 years in prison. He was convicted of attempted murder in conjunction with dangerous bodily harm, as well as attempted membership in a foreign terrorist organization. The verdict is not yet final and could be appealed.
Ongoing investigation
The arrest of Khalaf A. marks a significant expansion of the case beyond the immediate perpetrator. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office stated that additional details would be released in the coming days. The operation underscores Germany’s continued effort to hold accountable not only those who carry out extremist violence but also individuals who provide logistical or motivational support.
