Extremist attacks in Germany – A terrifying chronology (2024 – Now)

Die Anschlage in Deutschland häufen sich. Eine Übersicht.

Over the past 15 months, Germany has experienced a series of extremist attacks that have shaken public safety and confidence in political measures. These events underscore the ongoing threat posed by various forms of extremism , including Islamist-motivated acts and right-wing extremist violence. An overview of the most significant incidents since the end of 2023 is intended to help better understand the current situation and identify the challenges facing security authorities and society.

Mannheim, May 31, 2024 – Attack on journalist Michael Stürzenberger

At the end of May 2024, an anti-Islam rally organized by the "Citizens' Movement Pax Europa" (BPE) took place in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, during which journalist and blogger Michael Stürzenberger was attacked with a knife by the Turkish-born Sulaiman A. Subsequently, police officer Rouven Laur was stabbed in the back of the head by the knife attacker A., who died of his injuries in hospital two days later.1 According to the indictment, Soleiman A. sympathizes with the Islamic State (IS) and shares its ideology.2

Solingen, August 23, 2024 - Knife attack at the city festival in Solingen

In August 2024, the city administration of Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, had planned the annual city festival under the motto "Festival of Diversity." 3 Shortly after the festivities began on August 23, 26-year-old rejected asylum seeker Issa Al Hasan from Syria indiscriminately stabbed bystanders, fatally injuring three people and seriously injuring ten others. The Federal Prosecutor General's Office believes that Issa Al Hassan possessed radical Islamist beliefs, which led him to commit an attack against non-believers . 4

Munich, September 5, 2024 - Attack on the Israeli consulate in Munich

At the beginning of September 2024, another attack occurred in Munich. The perpetrator, Emrah I., 18 years old at the time of the crime and an Austrian citizen, drove a car across the Freilassing border crossing from Austria to Germany in the early morning of September 5th. Upon arriving in Munich, he approached his destination, but had difficulty finding his way. He repeatedly fired shots at the Nazi Documentation Center, which led to an exchange of fire with Munich police officers, in which Emrah I. was fatally injured. According to the Bavarian police, the perpetrator had previously used symbolism of the so-called HTS (Hai'at Tahrir al-Sham) in video games, although according to police, Emrah I's main motive was anti-Semitism .

 

Magdeburg December 20, 2024 – Attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg

Before the year ended, another catastrophe struck Magdeburg: Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian citizen, drove a car through an unguarded exit into the crowd at the Christmas market. In this rampage, al-Abdulmohsen killed six people and injured approximately 300 others. The exact motive of the attacker remains unclear. What is clear is that al-Abdulmohsen publicly warned against the "Islamization of Europe." However, this does not fit with the actual course of events at a Christian Christmas market.

 

Aschaffenburg, January 22, 2025 – Knife attack on a toddler in Aschaffenburg

On the morning of January 22, 28-year-old Afghan national Enamullah Omarzei approached a daycare group in Schöntal Park in Aschaffenburg. There, he murdered a 2-year-old Moroccan boy. A 41-year-old passerby, who happened to be at the scene, stood protectively in front of the children, was also fatally injured, and died at the scene. In this case, too, police initially suspect the perpetrator of a mental illness .

Mannheim, March 3, 2025 – The rampage of Alexander S.

At the beginning of March 2025, another attack occurred in Mannheim's city center. At around noon, 40-year-old Alexander S. drove a small car into Mannheim's main shopping street. Two people were killed and at least eleven injured. The suspect, from Ludwigshafen, has contacts in the right-wing extremist scene, and there are also indications of the perpetrator's mental illness. A copycat of the rampage in Magdeburg is now being considered.12

The events listed demonstrate the diversity of extremist threats in Germany. They underscore the need for a comprehensive strategy to prevent and combat extremism in all its forms. This includes, in particular, preventive approaches aimed at deradicalization. In the long term, migration policy measures will also have to be incorporated into the extremism prevention strategy to minimize the risk of extremist acts of violence. Only a holistic approach can counter social polarization and ensure the safety of all citizens.