Berlin Germany: Three-year juvenile sentence for IS supporter
A 19-year-old man has been sentenced in Berlin to three years' imprisonment for preparing a serious attack and attempted membership of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia, as well as other offenses.
16.01.2026, 15:07
SDA
According to the court, the then 18-year-old began to intensively study Islam in 2024 and subsequently radicalized himself on the internet.
By February 2025 at the latest, he had decided to carry out an attack in Germany. According to the indictment, he considered the Israeli embassy as a target. However, he failed to procure the explosives.
According to the verdict, the young man was also in contact with members of IS and had prepared his departure from Germany to join IS as a fighter in Afghanistan.
On February 20, 2025, the man, who most recently lived in refugee accommodation in Potsdam, was arrested at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport.
Verdict not yet final
As the accused was still an adolescent at the time of the offense and the court found that he had delayed maturity, a juvenile sentence of three years was imposed.
The judge emphasized that these were serious acts that demonstrated a high lack of empathy and an internalization of the goals of IS.
At the start of the trial at the beginning of December, the accused had shown remorse and completely distanced himself from radical ideas. The federal prosecution had requested a juvenile sentence of three and a half years.
The verdict is not yet final. It can be appealed to the Federal Court of Justice within one week.
