A ruling concerning the fatal stabbing of a police officer in Mannheim has become legally binding following a review by the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court. The court announced on Wednesday that no appeal against the initial verdict was filed within the one-week deadline.
Previously, on September 16th, the court’s 5th Criminal Senate had issued a life sentence for the perpetrator, formally acknowledging the particular severity of the crime.
The incident occurred on May 31, 2024, in downtown Mannheim. The attacker, an Afghan national residing in Germany, initially assaulted an executive board member of the civil movement Pax Europa, which is known for its criticisms of Islam. As several police officers responded to the scene, the fatal stabbing occurred.
During the trial, the perpetrator confessed to carrying out the attack as a sympathizer of the Islamic State (IS), characterizing it as a deliberate assault on a demonstration critical of Islam.
