Stabbing Incident in Berlin: Four Men Injured as Trial Begins

A 20-year-old man is facing trial at the Berlin Regional Court following a series of violent stabbing incidents that left four individuals injured. The accused, who is reportedly from Afghanistan, is charged with dangerous and severe bodily harm, with one victim nearly losing his life due to the severity of his injuries.

The court proceedings commenced with the accused opting to remain silent regarding the allegations against him. The prosecution's case lays out a harrowing series of events, detailing how the attacks unfolded between October 11, 2024, and February 22, 2025. The most critical incident involved a 23-year-old man who suffered multiple stab wounds, with the court noting that had it not been for immediate medical attention, he could have died.

According to the indictment, one of the injured is a 23-year-old who may never regain full use of his left hand, while an 18-year-old victim is unable to move three fingers on his left hand and a 26-year-old has lost sensation in his thumb. These injuries were a result of a violent altercation that escalated quickly, involving not only the accused but also several accomplices.

The initial attack took place at Roedeliusplatz in Berlin-Lichtenberg, where two teenagers aged 14 and 16 were targeted. The accused and his associates allegedly used pepper spray before physically assaulting the victims, culminating in the stabbing of the younger victim in the back.

In subsequent incidents, the accused and a group of unidentified individuals pursued a 23-year-old man with the intent to harm, leading to him being stabbed multiple times in various parts of his body including the left arm and upper torso. The prosecution has indicated that a conviction for attempted manslaughter could be a possibility, particularly in the case of the attack on the 23-year-old.

Further attacks linked to the defendant occurred in the districts of Gesundbrunnen and Neukölln, with the motives behind these violent encounters still under investigation.

The accused, who reportedly lacked a stable residence in Germany prior to his arrest, was apprehended in late April in Hesse and has remained in pre-trial detention since then. The trial is set to continue over the course of eleven additional sessions, scheduled to conclude on December 15.