Trial begins against 18-year-old for suspected terrorist plans in Hamburg

Five months after the arrest of a suspected Islamist terrorist, a trial against the 18-year-old has begun at the Hamburg regional court. This was announced by a court spokesman. According to the public prosecutor's office, the Syrian is said to have planned to kill an unspecified number of "infidels" in a shopping center, a bar or a police station in Hamburg from the end of April 2026 until his arrest on May 7th.

He wanted to carry out the attack with an explosive explosion, Molotov cocktails or, alternatively, with a knife. For this purpose he is said to have obtained universal fertilizer, liquid barbecue lighter, a balaclava and a knife.

The public prosecutor's office assumes that the terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) was the inspiration for the defendant's alleged attack plan. The young man is also said to have posted three propaganda videos for IS on his Instagram profile. The charges include suspicion of preparing a terrorist offense.

As the public prosecutor's office further announced, according to the preliminary assessment of an expert, the 18-year-old acted due to a mental illness and was in a state of significantly reduced incapacity. Last June, the arrest warrant against the accused was revoked and his placement in a psychiatric hospital was ordered by court order.

The main hearing that has now begun will take place before a youth jury court behind closed doors.