On 21 December 2024, Police in Germany arrested Taleb A, a 50-year-old doctor originally from Saudi Arabia, after he drove his car into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg. The attack resulted in the deaths of five people and left several injured. Taleb A, known as an ex-Muslim and supporter of the far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD), has raised significant concerns.
Here we compile 30 instances of Islamic jihad-related incidents in Germany between 2016 and 2024, including some, where Islamist mobs carried out knife attacks on citizens. The report also highlights Islamist plots targeting embassies and attacks on German police, all framed as actions carried out under the banner of Islam.
#1 – Saudi Doctor Arrested After Deadly Magdeburg Christmas Market Attack
In December 2024, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, Taleb A., was arrested by German police after ramming his car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing two and injuring 68. Taleb, an ex-Muslim and critic of Islam, supported the far-right AfD party. He moved to Germany in 2006, was granted asylum in 2016, and ran a website to help ex-Muslims. Authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack but believe he acted alone. Germany rejected Saudi Arabia’s extradition request, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack, offering condolences to the victims and their families.
#2 – Germany’s Growing Threat to Free Speech: The Case of Michael Stürzenberger
In December 2024, Michael Stürzenberger, a vocal critic of jihad and Sharia law, was stabbed by a jihadi and later convicted by a German court for “incitement to hatred,” receiving a €3,600 fine. Despite his controversial views on Islam and Muslim immigration, his criticism reflected concerns many Germans share. The persecution of Stürzenberger, much like other populist figures, signals the rise of political censorship and a potential decline in freedom of expression in Germany.
#3: Algerian Migrant Arrested for Arson in Germany, Injuring 16
In November 2024, a 35-year-old Algerian migrant was arrested in Germany for allegedly setting fire to an asylum center in Schleiden-Vogelsang, North Rhine-Westphalia. The fire injured 16 people and destroyed the building, with two neighboring homes also rendered uninhabitable. Around 110 firefighters responded to the blaze, which was believed to be deliberately set. The suspect faced charges including attempted murder, arson, and grievous bodily harm. Similar incidents of asylum seekers setting fire to their accommodations have occurred across Europe.
#4 – 15-Year-Old Teen Arrested in Germany for Alleged Islamist Attack Plot
In October 2024, a 15-year-old Turkish-German teenager was arrested in Düsseldorf for allegedly planning an Islamist-style attack on European Jews. Police discovered he had been in contact with Islamist terrorists online and had shared pro-ISIS content on social media. The teenager was reportedly planning the attack during a school trip to Holland. This arrest follows the August Solingen attack, where an ISIS-affiliated Syrian asylum seeker killed three people. Germany has seen a rise in violent Islamist activity, with recent incidents including a machete attack on soldiers and a series of arson and ramming attacks.
#5 – Libyan National Arrested in Germany for Alleged Plot Against Israeli Embassy
In October 2024, a 28-year-old Libyan national was arrested in Germany on suspicion of planning a terror attack on Israel’s embassy in Berlin. Authorities acted on intelligence from foreign services and stormed an apartment in Bernau, near Berlin. The suspect, believed to be an ISIS supporter, had entered Germany in 2022, with his asylum request rejected in 2023. This arrest highlights the rising threat of Islamist terrorism and antisemitism in Germany, following attacks, including the stabbing spree in Solingen. The German government has heightened security and taken stricter measures on immigration in response.
#6 – Syrian Man Arrested After Violent Rampage in Essen
In September 2024, a 41-year-old Syrian man was arrested in Essen after ramming a van into two shops and threatening passers-by with a machete. Police said his motive appeared to be personal, linked to his wife leaving him. Armed with knives and fire accelerants, he targeted homes and shops connected to people who supported his wife. This incident comes amid growing concerns over migration and a rise in suspected Islamist extremist attacks in Germany, including the fatal knife attack in Solingen in August. In response, Germany is tightening immigration controls and knife laws.
#7 – Knife Threat at Stuttgart Wine Festival
A 23-year-old man threatened staff at the Stuttgart Wine Village festival in September 2024, shouting “I will bring you all to Allah!” after demanding the music be turned off. After initially walking away, he returned with a knife, making stabbing motions. Security intervened immediately, and police responded quickly. The man, a German national, was investigated for threatening behavior, but authorities don’t believe the incident had an extremist motive.
#8 – Syrian National Arrested for Plot to Kill German Soldiers
In September 2024. a 27-year-old Syrian man, suspected of holding radical Islamist views, was arrested for plotting to kill German soldiers with machetes in Hof, Bavaria. The suspect planned to attack Bundeswehr soldiers during their lunch break, aiming to create fear and attract attention. Authorities tightened border controls following several recent knife attacks, including the August attack in Solingen, where three were killed.
#9: Two Afghan Men Charged for Plotting Attack in Sweden
Two Afghan men, Ibrahim M.G. and Ramin N., were charged in Germany for planning an attack on Sweden in retaliation for Quran burnings. Arrested in March 2024, they were accused of conspiring to kill police officers near the Swedish Parliament using firearms. Ibrahim M.G. is linked to ISIS-K, an Islamic State affiliate, and was tasked with carrying out the attack. The men raised funds for ISIS in Germany and conducted online research to procure weapons. Despite their efforts, they were unsuccessful in acquiring firearms before their arrest.
#10 – Berlin Man Robbed and Injured After Religious Dispute
In August 2024, a 20-year-old man was robbed and injured by three individuals, allegedly Islamists, in Berlin’s Mitte district at around 2:15 a.m. The suspects confronted the victim for drinking beer, citing religious reasons, before assaulting him and stealing his phone and bag. The victim sustained a cut on his forearm. Two suspects fled, while the victim detained a 14-year-old until police arrived. The young suspect was handed over to a guardian after being questioned.
#11: Iranian Man Attacked Police Near Nuremberg, Shot Dead
In July 2024, a 34-year-old Iranian man died after attacking three police officers with a knife near Nuremberg, Germany, on Sunday. The man initially targeted a police patrol car before attempting to knife the officers when they exited the vehicle. A female officer shot the man at a bus stop outside a train station in Lauf an der Pegnitz. Despite first aid from the officers and emergency medical personnel, he died at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities yet to determine the motive or the man’s background. There was no public danger, though the train station was temporarily closed.
#12 – Gang of Migrants Sought After Brutal Assault in Bad Oeynhausen
In June 2024, police in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, began searching for a gang of around 10 young male migrants who allegedly assaulted two men, aged 19 and 20, early Sunday morning. The suspects punched the victims to the ground and kicked them while they were defenseless. The 20-year-old victim sustained serious head injuries and remains in critical condition, with his life in danger. The suspects, described as being of Maghreb or Arab origin, were seen walking toward the town center after the attack.
#13 – Afghan Migrant Arrested for Stabbing Ukrainian Woman in Frankfurt
In June 2024, a 19-year-old Afghan migrant is under investigation for attempted murder after stabbing a 41-year-old Ukrainian woman in a Frankfurt park on Monday. The man approached the woman from behind, repeatedly stabbing her in the neck and head with a boxcutter knife. Witnesses intervened, causing the attacker to flee, but he was later found hiding and arrested. The woman, who had fled the war in Ukraine, is seriously injured.
#14 – Iraqi Man Arrested in Germany for ISIS Attack Plans
Mahmoud A., an Iraqi man, was arrested in Esslingen, Germany, on suspicion of preparing attacks on behalf of ISIS. Prosecutors allege that he joined ISIS in Iraq in 2016 and fought for the group. After arriving in Germany in October 2022, he is accused of planning to carry out attacks, though no specific targets or plans have been revealed. The suspect was held on charges of being a member of a foreign terrorist organization, with further investigations ongoing.
#15 – Hamas Plot to Attack Israeli Embassy in Berlin Uncovered
In May 2024, German security services uncovered a Hamas plot to target the Israeli embassy in Berlin and a U.S. military base. A Lebanese-origin suspect, arrested in December 2023, was found with location data on his phone and accused of scouting sites for weapons storage. The suspect reportedly received instructions from Hamas officials in Lebanon, a revelation that aligns with Israeli reports of a Hamas network operating in Europe. The swift arrest potentially thwarted a major attack.
#16 – ISIS Terror Cell Plotting Attacks in Germany Arrested
A terrorist cell consisting of individuals from Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Netherlands was arrested in Germany in July 2023. The group, linked to ISIS Khorasan, planned major attacks in Germany and Western Europe but lacked specific targets. They formed a terrorist organization and were in contact with ISIS members. The suspects had regular meetings to strategize potential locations for attacks. ISIS has escalated operations since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, presenting a growing security threat in the region. The group was also connected to a deadly shooting in Moscow that killed at least 137 people.
#17 – Moroccan Asylum Seeker Found Guilty of Murder and Attempted Murder
Ahmed Alid, 45, a Moroccan asylum seeker, was found guilty of murdering 70-year-old Terence Carney and attempting to murder his housemate, Javed Nouri, in Hartlepool in October 2023. Alid, motivated by the Gaza conflict and extremist views, attacked Nouri with a kitchen knife before fatally stabbing Carney during an early morning walk. Alid claimed his actions were in protest against Israel and the Palestinian issue. He was also convicted of assaulting emergency workers during his arrest.
#18 – Afghan Suspects Arrested in Germany Over Planned Attack on Swedish Parliament
Two Afghan nationals were arrested in Germany in March 2024 for allegedly planning a firearms attack on Sweden’s parliament, in retaliation for Quran burnings in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. One suspect is linked to ISIS, while the other is a supporter. The suspects made preparations, attempted to acquire weapons, and researched Stockholm as the attack site. They also collected donations for ISIS.
#19 – Four Teenagers Arrested in Germany Over Islamist Terror Plot
Four teenagers, including three from North Rhine-Westphalia and one from Stuttgart, were arrested in Germany in April 2024 for planning an Islamist terrorist attack. The suspects, aged 15 and 16, allegedly intended to target churches, synagogues, or public locations in Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Cologne. Investigations revealed discussions of Molotov cocktail and knife attacks, with plans to potentially acquire firearms. Authorities were prompted by a 16-year-old girl’s suspected attempt to join ISIS.
#20 – Man Dies After Attack By Syrian Man In Dortmund Psychiatric Facility
A 67-year-old man died after being attacked by a 42-year-old patient, a Syrian man, in a psychiatric facility in Dortmund. Carers found the suspect kneeling on the victim’s chest while shouting prayers. The victim, from Lünen, fell into a coma and later died in the hospital due to respiratory tract injuries, as confirmed by the autopsy.
#21 – Violent Attack at Christopher Street Day Celebration in Halle
After the Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade in Halle, a group of CSD participants was attacked by four men in September 2023, with homophobic insults being hurled at them. The attackers, described as having a southern appearance, physically assaulted the group with punches and kicks. A 41-year-old victim suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized, while three others were treated at the scene. Police apprehended two suspects, aged 16 and 20, who were identified as Afghan nationals.
#22: Neukölln Schoolgirls Stabbed By Turkish Migrant, Claimed Mental Illness
On 3 May 2023, 38-year-old Berhan S. stabbed two young girls, aged seven and eight, at Neukölln Evangelical School, causing serious injuries. Prosecutors dropped charges after deeming him psychotic and not criminally responsible. Berhan claimed he heard voices urging him to attack. His violent history included a 2009 stabbing of his partner and multiple prior offenses. Critics questioned the role of religious indoctrination and the blurred line between mental illness and ideological extremism.
#23 – Syrian Man Injures Police in Violent Nuremberg Train Station Attack
A 28-year-old Syrian man attacked police officers with a broken glass bottle at Nuremberg’s main train station, shouting “Allahu Akbar” during the incident. Three officers were injured, including a 23-year-old who sustained severe injuries. The attack, described as particularly brutal, prompted the homicide commission to investigate attempted manslaughter, with an Islamist motive. The man was restrained with the help of additional officers. Witnesses reported he had been threatening passers-by before police intervention.
#24 – Police Foil Suspected Suicide Attack in Germany
German police detained a 27-year-old Syrian man in Harburg after receiving intelligence from a foreign secret service about a potential Islamist-inspired suicide attack. The operation, led by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, involved a search of a refugee accommodation in Tostedt, though no explosives or weapons were found. Reports indicate the suspect had asked for prayers on social media before deactivating his accounts. The man was held for 11 days under the Police and Regulatory Authorities Act of Lower Saxony.
#25 – Arab Mob Attacks Graduation Party in Görlitz, Injures Eight
In July 2023, a violent incident occurred outside the “Zwei Linden” discotheque in Görlitz, where a group of 12 to 20 individuals of Arab origin attacked guests at a graduation party. Using broken bottles, the attackers injured at least eight people, with five victims requiring hospital treatment. The suspects, aged 19 to 35, included Syrians, Turks, Iraqis, and Lebanese. The altercation reportedly began with verbal insults, escalating to physical violence and property damage amounting to €3,500.
#26 – Stabbing Rampage on German Train by Palestinian Migrant Leaves Two Dead
In January 2023, a 33-year-old Palestinian, Ibrahim A., killed two and injured seven in a stabbing spree aboard a train from Kiel to Hamburg. The attacker, previously in custody for violent and sexual offenses, was subdued by police and passengers in Brokstedt after fleeing the train and continuing his assault on the platform.
#27 – Syrian Jihadist Sentenced to Life for Deadly Homophobic Attack in Germany
A German court sentenced 21-year-old Syrian Abdullah A. to life imprisonment for the 2020 stabbing of a gay couple in Dresden. Motivated by radical Islamist views, Abdullah attacked Thomas L., 55, and his partner Oliver L., 53, with a knife, killing Thomas and seriously wounding Oliver. The court declared a “particular severity of guilt,” barring early release. Abdullah had a criminal history, including terrorist affiliations, and was under surveillance at the time of the attack. The case was Germany’s first fatal Islamist attack targeting gay individuals.
#28 – Danish and German Authorities Arrest 14 Over Islamist Bomb Plot
In 2021, authorities in Denmark and Germany arrested 14 suspects in connection with a planned Islamist bomb attack. Thirteen individuals were detained in Copenhagen’s suburbs, while one was arrested in Germany. Among the suspects were three Syrian brothers accused of preparing explosives and acquiring weapons. Searches uncovered 10 kilograms of black powder, chemicals, firearms, and an Islamic State flag, suggesting links to the terror group. Danish intelligence (PET) deemed the findings “worrying” but stated no imminent threat.
#29 – Palestinian Asylum Seeker Sentenced to Life for Hamburg Knife Attack
A Palestinian asylum seeker and radicalized Islamist received a life sentence in 2018 for a knife attack in a Hamburg supermarket which killed a 50-year-old man and injured six others. The attacker, known to authorities, was subdued by locals who threw chairs and objects at him. He could not be deported due to a lack of identification documents and psychological instability. Despite being flagged as an Islamist in intelligence systems, he was not deemed violent or linked to imminent threats.
#30 – Afghan Teen’s IS-Linked Axe Attack on German Train
A 17-year-old Afghan asylum seeker carried out an IS-linked axe and knife attack on a German train, injuring five people, one critically, before being shot dead by police. A video released by IS showed the attacker declaring himself a “soldier” preparing for a mission. Authorities later found an IS flag and radical writings in his foster home. The teen, who arrived in Germany as an unaccompanied minor, reportedly self-radicalized. Among the victims were Hong Kong tourists, with one family member and a boyfriend shielding others.
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