Bloody attack on the Holocaust memorial: Police puts suspects!

Bloody attack on the Holocaust memorial: Police puts suspects!

on Friday evening, around 6 p.m., a serious incident occurred in the Stelenfeld of the Holocaust memorial in Berlin-Mitte. A Spanish tourist was stabbed there and suffered serious but not life -threatening injuries. The police reported that the perpetrator was initially able to flee but was arrested about three hours later. During the arrest, the suspect was found with blood on his hands and without papers, and his identity is still unclear. The suspect will be shown to the judge on Saturday, relevant information on the status of the investigation is also to be published on Saturday.

The investigators speak of a “top object” as a murder weapon, the exact species of which could not yet be clearly defined. Several evidence was ensured at the crime scene, while the police searched the area for further information, clothing and any other injuries. Witnesses reported that the two men in the Stelenfeld had gained each other before one attack. It is currently unclear whether a terrorist background is available, but the State Criminal Police Office, which is responsible for Islamist terror, was included in the investigation. [rbb24] reports on current developments.

Overview of violent crime in Germany

The incident at the Holocaust Memorial is embedded in a worrying trend of violent crime in Germany. According to statistics from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), a total of around 5.9 million crimes were registered in 2023, including around 214,000 cases of violent crime. This represents an increase of 8.6 % compared to the previous year and the highest number since 2007. A significant proportion of these offenses are based on catch-up effects according to the Corona restrictions.

The overall situation not only shows an increase in the use of violence in different locations, but also a worrying tendency for attacks on police officers, in which the numbers have also increased continuously in recent years. It is clear that society faces challenges that require comprehensive and target courts.