Admitter admits to a savage stabbing incident in Mannheim.

In the courtroom of Stuttgart's Higher Regional Court, Sulaiman A., a 26-year-old Afghan defendant, gave a detailed account of the knife attack he allegedly carried out in Mannheim's market square on May 31, 2024.

Sulaiman, who lived most recently in Mannheim before the incident, stated that the Gaza War, which began on October 7, 2023, had a profound impact on his life. He claimed to have cried every day due to the disturbing images he saw on Telegram during the conflict.

The defendant is charged with murder, attempted murder, and injuring six people with a knife during the attack. One of the victims, police officer Rouven Laur, died two days later from his severe injuries.

Sulaiman allegedly had sympathies for the terrorist organization Islamic State and subscribed to several channels on Telegram where he saw images of dead men, women, and children during the Gaza War. He also saved IS propaganda videos with combat scenes on the platform.

The defendant spoke of a chat partner on Telegram who confirmed his planned attack and spoke of the killing of police officers and mujahideen. However, it is unclear if Sulaiman wanted to die as a martyr during the attack.

The defendant alleged that he ordered the murder weapon on the online marketplace AliExpress three weeks before the attack. He claimed to have no memory of or denied making an online comment that reads, "I hope that God makes us martyrs."

During the incident, another police officer shot the attacker. Sulaiman, who calmly and extensively recounted the attack in court, stated that he did not intend to be killed on May 31st, but he cannot explain why he injured six people, one of them fatally, during the attack.

It is unclear how Sulaiman's religiosity has changed over the years, according to a neighbour's statement. The defendant, however, praised the Islamic State for implementing God's laws and spoke of his admiration for the organization.

The trial continues as the court seeks to understand the motives behind the tragic events that unfolded in Mannheim's market square on that fateful day in May 2024. The defendant faces a life sentence.