German court convicts Palestinian man of murder in fatal stabbing on train last year

BERLIN (AP) — A court in Germany convicted a man of murder and sentenced him to life in prison Wednesday for committing a fatal stabbing on a train last year.

The Itzehoe state court convicted the 34-year-old Palestinian, identified only as Ibrahim A. in accordance with German privacy rules, of murder and attempted murder, German news agency dpa reported.

He was found to have fatally stabbed two teenagers and seriously injured four other passengers in the January 25, 2023, incident in the northern city of Brokstedt, before being overpowered by others on board the regional train traveling from Kiel to Hamburg.

The defendant grew up in the Gaza Strip and came to Germany in 2014.

A psychiatric expert testified during the trial that the defendant had psychotic symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder, but could be held criminally responsible for his actions. The defense lawyer asked that his client be transferred to a psychiatric institution.

Investigators said the man had a criminal record and was in preventive custody in another case before being released days before the attack. He traveled to a meeting with immigration authorities in Kiel and prosecutors said he appeared to have acted out of frustration.

The seriousness of the case means he will likely not be eligible for release after 15 years, as is normally the case in Germany.