Broken car on the A100
Photo: FABRIZIO BENSCH / REUTERSAccording to SPIEGEL information, the suspect in the case of an alleged Islamist attack with a car on Berlin's city motorway had contact with a man who was classified as an Islamist threat and who is part of the spectrum of the Islamic State terrorist militia. The suspect himself was therefore not listed as a threat.
Sarmad A. had rammed his car into other vehicles such as cars and motorcycles in three places on the motorway in the western part of Berlin on Tuesday evening around 6.30 p.m. The attacker "practically hunted" motorcyclists with his car, said the public prosecutor's office, Martin Steltner. Two motorcycle riders and one scooter rider are affected.
The motorcyclists and a car were rammed, another car was hit. The collisions are to be seen as targeted attacks. Six people were injured, three of them seriously. A motorcyclist suffered severe injuries to his head and spine.
A. published notices of planned crime on social media
The 30-year-old Iraqi Sarmad A. was arrested as a suspect. A. had given indications of the impending act on social media on Tuesday. He shared photos of the car he later used to ram several vehicles, as well as religious sayings that included the word "martyr".
In the photos you can see the Berlin license plate of the black car, which hours later was badly damaged on the autobahn. After the stop, A. is said to have rolled out a prayer carpet and chanted "Allahu Akbar", according to SPIEGEL information. He placed a metal box on the roof of the car and claimed there was a "dangerous object" inside. Forensic scientists discovered tools in the box.
Conspicuous because of a psychologically indicated act of violence
According to Steltner, public prosecutor's spokesman is investigated for attempted murder in at least three cases. The suspect should be brought before a judge. There are both indications of radical Islamist sentiments and of psychological instability. According to SPIEGEL information, investigators suspect a mixture of both as the motive.
A. was previously not noticed with relevant criminal offenses, said Steltner. According to the public prosecutor's office, A. has a tolerance status in Germany. Whether other people were involved in the attack is being investigated.
According to their own statements, the investigators have so far not had any knowledge of a possible integration of the man into Islamist structures. According to SPIEGEL information, however, the 30-year-old had already become suspicious of an act of violence.
Governing Mayor Michael Müller (SPD) was shocked by the alleged Islamist attack in a message on Twitter and wished the victims a speedy recovery.
Berlin's Senator for the Interior, Andreas Geisel, said: "If a car hits motorcyclists in a targeted manner, they have no chance." Uninvolved people "became victims of a crime out of nowhere".
Among the three seriously injured is a firefighter who was on his way home. Geisel said: "Yesterday's events show us very painfully how vulnerable our free society is." Berlin is "still in the focus of Islamist terrorism".
Icon: The mirrorkko / srö / fis / dpa