Afghan Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Fatal Mannheim Knife Attack

Life Sentence Handed Down in Mannheim Attack

An Afghan man, identified as Sulaiman A., has been sentenced to life in prison by a German court for a deadly knife attack that occurred in Mannheim in May 2024. The verdict was delivered by the Stuttgart Higher Regional Court on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, concluding a case that drew significant national attention. The court found Sulaiman A. guilty of murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, and dangerous bodily harm.

The court also determined that the guilt was of 'special gravity,' a finding that effectively precludes early release after the standard 15 years of imprisonment in Germany.

Details of the May 2024 Attack

The attack took place on May 31, 2024, at approximately 11:34 a.m., during a rally hosted by the anti-Islam group Citizens' Movement Pax Europa (BPE) in Mannheim's market square. Sulaiman A., who was 25 years old at the time of the incident, used a large hunting knife to target participants. Among the six people injured was controversial activist Michael Stürzenberger, the rally's main speaker and the attacker's intended target.

Police officer Rouven Laur, 29 years old, intervened to protect others and was fatally stabbed. He succumbed to his injuries two days later. The attacker was subsequently shot and injured by another police officer, leading to his arrest.

Motive and Legal Proceedings

Prosecutors established that Sulaiman A. acted with Islamist motives, harboring sympathy for the Islamic State group and aiming to kill critics of Islam and 'supposed infidels,' as well as police officers representing the German state. During the trial, Sulaiman A. confessed to the crime and expressed remorse, apologizing to the victims' relatives. He claimed to have been radicalized through social media following the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Sulaiman A. arrived in Germany in 2013 at the age of 14 as an unaccompanied minor. His asylum application was denied, but he was granted stays of deportation and permanent residency. The attack intensified public debate in Germany regarding immigration, security, and the deportation of foreign criminals.

Aftermath and Broader Implications

The tragic event and subsequent sentencing have underscored ongoing discussions within Germany concerning public safety and the integration of migrants. The German government has since announced plans to tighten border controls and resume deportations of serious criminals to countries previously deemed unsafe, including Taliban-run Afghanistan. The verdict in Mannheim follows other high-profile knife attacks in Germany, further fueling these national conversations.