Is the Würzburg knife attacker an extremist? The investigators see evidence of an Islamist motive. It is unclear what role his mental state played.
In the knife attack in Würzburg, in which three people were killed, it is obvious from the investigators’ point of view that the man was Islamistically motivated. So far, however, it has been questionable whether the Somali was involved in a terrorist organization, said a spokesman for the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) in Munich on Tuesday. There is still no evidence of this. So far, no such evidence has been found in the 24-year-old’s accommodation in Würzburg – nevertheless, witness statements suggest such a background.
These witnesses claim to have heard the exclamation “Allahu Akbar” twice during the attack on the 24-year-old, as announced by the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office and the LKA. In addition, the man who was later stopped with a police shot in the hospital is said to have given a reference to the “jihad” – that is, the “holy war”.
Propaganda writings have not yet been found by the attacker in Würzburg
“So far, no evidence of propaganda material or other extremist content has been found in the suspect,” explained the investigators. The preliminary investigation continues.
The man, who had suffered mental health problems in the past, stabbed a total of ten people in downtown Würzburg on Friday, whom he probably didn’t know. Three women died and seven people were injured, including an 11-year-old girl. In the meantime none of the injured is in mortal danger.
The 24-year-old is in custody – for triple murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm as well as willful bodily harm.
State Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) had already spoken of indications of an Islamist motive of the perpetrator after the crime. He based this on the testimony of a witness, according to which the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” (German: “God is great”). Jihadists and Salafists often use the term like a battle cry. In doing so, the extremists are using the central religious formula of Islam, which has been used by Muslims around the world for centuries. Herrmann did not rule out the possibility that it could be the act of a mentally ill person with Islamist connections.
The police have so far kept covered with statements about the possible motive for the crime and indicated that the investigation should be over. After all, all objects that were found in the man’s homeless shelter in Würzburg would first have to be examined and evaluated, including by Islamic scholars. The finds also include two cell phones that are said to belong to the 24-year-old. The contents of the mobile phones are also to be evaluated with the help of Islamic scholars.
More than 130 investigators dealt with the case
“In addition, the investigators are currently following more than a hundred leads,” said the message. “Final statements are not yet possible.” More than 130 members of the Main Special Commission and the criminal police worked on the case. Experts from the Federal Criminal Police Office are also involved.
The investigative authority commissioned a forensic psychiatric report to clarify the question of the culpability of the man described as mentally problematic. In addition, placement in a psychiatric hospital or rehab facility should be examined.
As the Munich investigators announced, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe had already dealt with the suspect this year. The background was a testimony from January that the suspect claimed to have killed civilians, journalists and police officers for the Islamist shebab militia in Somalia in 2008 and 2009.
In the absence of concrete facts, the Federal Public Prosecutor refrained from initiating investigative proceedings. In addition, the Somali would have been eleven or twelve years old at the alleged time of the crime and would therefore have been under criminal responsibility as a child.
Somali suspect has previously threatened people with knives
As the Public Prosecutor General also announced, the suspect threatened several people with a knife in homeless shelters in Würzburg on January 12 and 13. He also insulted those present. The suspect was therefore placed in a psychiatric ward for eight days.
Almost two weeks before the crime on Friday – on June 14th – the 24-year-old got into the car of a 59-year-old in downtown Würzburg and sat in the passenger seat. The driver addressed the Somali several times, but received no answer.
Finally, the 59-year-old called the police, but the 24-year-old also did not respond to the police. The responsible regulatory office then had him admitted to a psychiatric ward, but he left it a day later at his own request.
In addition, the suspect was involved in a dispute with a roommate in an asylum seeker accommodation in Chemnitz in 2015, in which he is said to have used a kitchen knife. Due to contradicting statements about the course of events, no evidence of the crime had to be provided, which is why the proceedings were discontinued in early 2017.
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