logo
Attacker charged over Berlin Holocaust memorial stabbing

Attacker charged over Berlin Holocaust memorial stabbing

Local Germany29-07-2025
The suspect, a refugee partially identified as Wassim Al M., is said to have
seriously injured the 30-year-old man
at the landmark in the German capital in February.
It was one of a series of attacks blamed on foreign nationals that fuelled a bitter debate about immigration in the run-up to Germany's general election.
The suspect "shares the ideology of the foreign terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS)" and has "radical Islamist and antisemitic views", federal prosecutors said in a statement.
He had travelled from the eastern city of Leipzig, where he had been living, to Berlin to target "alleged infidels, whom he regarded as representatives of a Western form of society that he rejected", prosecutors said.
Shortly before the stabbing, the suspect, who was 19 at the time, sent a photo of himself to IS members so the group could claim responsibility for the attack, they said.
Advertisement
The tourist, from the Basque Country in northern Spain, was wounded in the neck during the attack at Berlin's Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a sombre grid of concrete steles located near the Brandenburg Gate and the US embassy.
The suspect, who was arrested shortly after the attack and is in pre-trial detention, has also been charged with causing serious bodily harm and attempted membership of a foreign terrorist organisation.
Officials said previously he had arrived in Germany in 2023.
The attack was one of several which shocked Germany ahead of the general election, which saw a doubling in the vote-share for the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The election was won by the centre-right CDU/CSU, which has since taken power at the head of a coalition and moved swiftly to introduce stricter curbs on immigration.
The new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz has signalled it is trying to resume deportations to Syria, which have been suspended since 2012.
READ ALSO:
Taliban to send envoys to Germany to work on deportations
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ukrainian refugee aid across Europe compared – DW – 08/05/2025
Ukrainian refugee aid across Europe compared – DW – 08/05/2025

DW

time2 hours ago

  • DW

Ukrainian refugee aid across Europe compared – DW – 08/05/2025

German politicians are debating whether to slash financial assistance for Ukrainian refugees. How does the country stack up against its EU neighbors when it comes to generosity in helping those fleeing war? Markus Söder, premier of Bavaria, Germany's largest state, wants to do away with current rules governing access to aid money for Ukrainian refugees living in Germany. The head of the Christian Social Union (CSU), part of Germany's conservative CDU/CSU union, is of the opinion that Ukrainian refugees should get less money in general — no matter if they are new arrivals or have been living in Germany for years. Söder's proposal far exceeds the changes promised in the CDU/CSU's coalition agreement, which it signed with the Social Democrats (SPD) in May to form the current government. In the contract — which forms the basis for the coalition's existence — signatory parties agreed to cut financial assistance to new Ukrainian refugees applying for asylum in the country. The coalition agreement, however, explicitly exempted cuts for Ukrainian refugees already living in Germany. To date, Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Germany have all been afforded so-called citizens' money [Bürgergeld] payments, meaning they receive the same amount of welfare assistance that an unemployed German would. For single adults, that means a sum of €563 ($650) each month. Further, German taxpayers cover the cost of rent and health insurance for their guests. In all, that means Germany is among the most financially generous countries when it comes to assistance for Ukrainians forced to flee their homes because of war. Unlike others, Ukrainian refugees are also given permission to immediately enter the German labor market upon arrival. Bavaria's Söder now wants to slash that assistance to people applying for asylum. That would mean a monthly stipend between €353 and €441 for single adults, depending on their living situation. Families would also receive between €299 and €391 monthly for each child they have, with payments varying according to age. The European Union (EU) classifies Ukrainian refugees as individuals "deserving of temporary protection" under a mechanism established in 2001. These guidelines were activated for the first time in 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The guidelines stipulate that EU host countries must provide refugees, in this case Ukrainians, with access to housing, employment and health care. The guidelines do not, however, define the value of those payments and/or services, leading to great disparities across the 27-member bloc. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Poland does not hand out monthly payments and Warsaw has even gone so far as to do away with its previous one-time payment of roughly €70 for each adult refugee arriving from Ukraine. Ukrainian refugees in Poland are instead given a personal identification number, giving them access to jobs, education and free health care. Ukrainian parents are given a monthly €190 payment for their first child, with smaller payments for each child after that. Parents caring for children with a disability or those with chronic illnesses may also apply for welfare assistance. In Hungary, the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban — known for his anti-immigrant sentiments — tightened rules defining which Ukrainian refugees it feels are "deserving of temporary protection." Western Ukraine, for instance, is now viewed as a safe place of origin in the eyes of Hungary's lawmakers, meaning refugees hailing from those parts have no right to free housing at state-run refugee facilities. The international NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) decried the move, saying it put thousands of Ukrainians on the streets. Adult refugees considered worthy of protection are afforded a €55 monthly payment as well as about €34 a month for each child in their family. In Belgium, single adult refugees from Ukraine receive approximately €1,100 per month in assistance, the highest rate in the EU. Moreover, they receive publicly funded health insurance and have the right to publicly funded housing. Furthermore, refugees can apply for financial assistance for the acquisition of furniture, clothing, medical necessities (including glasses) and food. Ukrainian refugees in Sweden do not receive monthly stipends but daily cash allotments. Adults can receive up to about €180-€190 by month's end but only if they have no other income. Payment for children adds up to roughly €140 per month. Additional funds are available for items such as winter clothing or baby carriages. Ukrainian refugees theoretically have access to funds for things like glasses, yet they generally only have the right to medical assistance in emergency situations or in the case of care that cannot be delayed. The United Kingdom (UK) must no longer adhere to EU rules since it famously left the bloc during the so-called Brexit. There, the government allots Ukrainian refugee families about €30 each week for their eldest child, with another €20 a week for all others. Additional payments are provided to assist in covering childcare costs for those children too young to attend school. Retirees (from age 66 for females, 67 for males) are eligible for payments of up to €230 a week. Rules governing adult refugees who have yet to reach retirement age are more complicated and must often be calculated on an individual basis. One assistance program, Homes for Ukraine, is designed to help Ukrainians find living accommodation with UK citizens, for example. The program pays out a roughly €230 one-time payment to refugees, while at the same time it sets up a €400 monthly payment for individuals hosting them — these hosts must also vouch for the refugees they house. Lastly, the UK's "Universal Credit" program provides further financial support to refugees only if their savings fall below a certain threshold. The amount of money they can receive and what it can be used for depends on the refugee in question and their current financial situation. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

Germany: AfD-linked China espionage trial opens in Dresden – DW – 08/05/2025
Germany: AfD-linked China espionage trial opens in Dresden – DW – 08/05/2025

DW

time3 hours ago

  • DW

Germany: AfD-linked China espionage trial opens in Dresden – DW – 08/05/2025

A former aide to far-right AfD politician Maximilian Krah has gone on trial accused of spying for China since 2002. Prosecutors say the case reveals espionage targeting German political, economic, and military affairs. A court in the eastern city of Dresden began the trial of two people suspected of spying for China. One of the defendants, a former assistant to a lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is accused of passing on information to the Chinese since 2002. The former AfD aide, identified only as Jian G. under German privacy laws, is charged with providing information to Chinese intelligence for decades. The period includes a more recent time when he worked for Maximilian Krah — at the time a member of the European Parliament for the far-right populist party. Prosecutors in Dresden accuse Jian G. of passing on information on debates and decisions at the European Parliament, along with other information. He is suspected of illegally accessing more than 500 documents that the parliament, of which his boss Krah was a member between 2019 and 2025, had classified as "particularly sensitive." G., who was arrested in the eastern German city of Dresden in April 2024, is also suspected of gathering information on senior AfD figures including party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. It is also possible that information collected by Jian G. includes sensitive details about the workings of the AfD itself, the revelation of which could prove an embarrassment to the party. However, Krah has told news magazine that he never discussed certain internal problems with the defendant. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The second defendant, named only as Jaqi X., worked at a company that provided Leipzig airport with logistics services. She is accused of helping Jian G. access information on flights and passengers, especially to do with the transport of defense equipment. Krah himself is under separate investigation on suspicion of money laundering and corruption partly connected with firms linked to Jian G. He was also at the center of a scandal over remarks that seemed to downplay the seriousness of the crimes committed by the Nazis' notorious SS, but nonetheless currently sits as an AfD member of the German lower house, or Bundestag. At the start of his trial, Jian G. denied allegations of spying for China. His defense lawyer rejected the charges in court, saying G. had never agreed to pass on any information. Described as a committed employee, G. mainly worked on foreign trade, the lawyer said. Given his background and language skills, he was also responsible for managing relations with China and held talks in that context. The defense acknowledged that some of the people G. interacted with could have had ties to Chinese intelligence, but insisted there was no evidence of intentional cooperation Meanwhile, alleged accomplice Jaqi X. testified that she was unaware of any intelligence links between Jian G. and Chinese authorities. However, she admitted passing information to him because he worked in the European Parliament and was, in her words, committed to fostering strong ties between China and Germany through the AfD. Federal prosecutors have described the espionage case as "particularly serious," citing extensive Chinese surveillance activities targeting Germany and the EU. "This case is exemplary of China's intelligence efforts concerning Germany's political, economic, and military affairs," said Federal Prosecutor Stephan Morweiser on the sidelines of the trial in Dresden. He said the spying extended from monitoring AfD leadership to tracking troop movements. The trial at Dresden's Higher Regional Court is expected to last through the end of September, with 13 days of hearings scheduled. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video While you're here: Every Tuesday, DW editors round up what is happening in German politics and society. You can sign up here for the weekly email newsletter Berlin Briefing.

What is Palantir's Gotham software and why do German police want it?
What is Palantir's Gotham software and why do German police want it?

Local Germany

time4 hours ago

  • Local Germany

What is Palantir's Gotham software and why do German police want it?

The German government and police forces see Palantir's Gotham software as a powerful tool to combat serious crime and terrorism more effectively. Palantir is a data analytics and software company which develops platforms for analyzing large datasets for governments, intelligence agencies, the military, and commercial companies. Officials from Germany's interior ministry argue that Gotham can play a crucial role in modernizing and achieving technological autonomy for German police forces, allowing officers to concentrate on their primary responsibilities by minimizing the time spent cross-referencing disconnected databases At the same time, civil rights groups like the Society for Civil Liberties (GFF) and the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) have warned that adoption of the software could lead to 'dragnet surveillance', a loss of transparency, and police dependence on a foreign company. What does Gotham actually do? Gotham is a large data analytics platform which integrates previously disparate police databases. In other words, it gives police or security authorities access to a vast amount of data. Within seconds, it enables officers to find extensive information about individuals – not just names, address, and criminal records, but also social media content or mobile device data. In theory, these comprehensive profiles can reveal hidden connections between suspects and incidents, aiding in the prevention and investigation of crimes. Why is everyone talking about it now? The recent flurry of headlines in the German press were partly sparked when Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, of the conservative CDU, suggested that he was open to expanding Palantir's use by federal police and criminal investigation agencies (in a notable shift from his predecessor's position). READ ALSO: What to know about talking to the police in Germany But much of the global attention is a result of the company's record-breaking Q2 2025 revenue announcement. Driven by soaring demand for AI technologies globally, the company posted revenues of more than a billion dollars in just three months. Which police forces in Germany already use Gotham? Three German federal states actively use Gotham: Bavaria (since 2024), Hesse (since 2017), and North Rhine-Westphalia (2019/20). After lengthy political disputes , Baden-Württemberg plans to adopt the software soon, pending amendments to the Police Act and with parliamentary oversight. Their contract is reported to be around €25 million for five years. Is the investment justified? Twenty-five million euros is a lot of money for just one state's police budget. While detailed financial information from other states remains confidential, licensing fees and ongoing maintenance suggest substantial expenses. Though comprehensive performance data is scarce due to privacy concerns, Gotham reportedly played a key role in swiftly resolving a 2024 attack in Munich by effectively mapping suspects' movements. Advertisement What other concerns exist about the software? Civil rights groups, notably the Chaos Computer Club (CCC), raise serious concerns regarding privacy and constitutional rights. Spokesperson Constanze Kurz has called Gotham a form of "dragnet investigation" which risks sweeping in vast numbers of innocent people alongside suspects, violating the German legal principle of data processing for specific purposes ( Zweckbindung ). Kurz and legal organizations like the Society for Civil Liberties (GFF) also criticise Palantir's proprietary software for its lack of transparency and the potential for misuse or the expansion of surveillance beyond legal norms. According to current law, police in Bavaria can employ Gotham without any suspicion of wrongdoing, meaning that anyone filing a complaint or merely present at the scene of a crime can become subject to data scrutiny. READ ALSO: German federal police to be equipped with Tasers by end of 2025 Advertisement "Anyone who files a complaint, or who is a victim of a crime, or even just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time can attract police attention via this software," according to GFF lawyer Franziska Görlitz. The GFF has filed a constitutional complaint against the large-scale data analysis in Bavaria on the basis that it breaches the fundamental right to informational self-determination and the confidentiality of telecommunications, which is guaranteed in the German constitution. Are there additional concerns specific to Palantir as a company? Palantir is tightly linked to US military and intelligence agencies, with founder Peter Thiel, a controversial figure known for authoritarian leanings, deeply involved. Kurz describes Palantir as the "AI arms dealer of the 21st century," warning German authorities of the geopolitical and legal risks in handing sensitive police data to a US company subject to conflicting foreign laws and interests. In an interview with the Weizenbaum Institute, she raised concerns about digital sovereignty, potential data transfers to the US, and insufficient democratic control over surveillance technologies. Advertisement Palantir is named after the 'seeing stones' in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Gotham prompts images of Batman and the company's apparent determination to make itself indispensable to multiple armed forces and law enforcement agencies in multiple countries has prompted comparisons with Skynet in the Terminator films. READ ALSO: What are the digital IDs you can get in Germany? Despite these touches of fantasy, however, Palantir is a very real company. Given its military origins (in Afghanistan in 2003), and its CEO Alex Karp's open acknowledgment of his company's role in helping 'kill bad guys faster,' the line it seeks to walk between enhanced security and invasive control raises numerous ethical and constitutional questions. In 2009, six years after founding Palantir, Peter Thiel published an essay (The Education of a Libertarian) in which he wrote: 'I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.' What happens next? Currently, Palantir shows no signs of slowing its expansion. The company experienced a 340 percent increase in valuation in 2024, supported by long-term contracts with numerous police and military organizations worldwide. In the United States, its Gotham software is employed by agencies including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, NSA, and multiple military branches for tasks ranging from counterterrorism and intelligence analysis to fraud investigations. READ ALSO: Are German police racially profiling people at the border? In Europe, besides Germany, Gotham supports Europol, Norwegian Customs, and Denmark's predictive policing platform POL-INTEL. Beyond Europe, the software is used by Ukraine to improve military targeting and document war crimes during the Russian war of aggression.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store