A court ruling concerning the fatal stabbing of a police officer in Mannheim has become legally binding following the expiration of a one-week period for appeal. The Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart confirmed the verdict on Wednesday, noting no revision was filed.
Previously, on September 16th, the court’s Fifth Criminal Senate had delivered a life sentence for the perpetrator, designating the crime as particularly serious.
The incident occurred on May 21, 2024, in downtown Mannheim. The perpetrator, an Afghan national residing in Germany, initially attacked a board member of the islam-critical citizens’ movement Pax Europa. The fatal stabbing of the police officer followed the arrival of multiple officers responding to the first attack.
During the trial, the perpetrator confessed to carrying out the act as a sympathizer of ISIS, claiming it was a deliberate attack targeting a demonstration critical of Islam.