Syrian Asylum Seeker Fatally Stabs Father on Berlin U12; Attacker Shot by Police

On Saturday, 43-year-old Syrian national Shadi S., who held legal asylum status in Germany, fatally stabbed 29-year-old Steve H., a fitness trainer and father, on the U12 line at Berlin's Sophie-Charlotte-Platz U-Bahn station. Steve H., who lived in Steglitz, died from multiple stab wounds. Shadi S. was subsequently shot and killed by police after attempting to flee and assaulting officers. Shadi S. had a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for violent offenses such as a knife attack on his sister, assaulting police officers, and issuing threats. Despite multiple convictions, probation violations, and a standing arrest warrant, he remained at large due to judicial decisions that suspended his detention or imposed probation. The incident has led to public and political scrutiny of judicial and immigration authorities' handling of repeat offenders and deportation policies for foreign nationals. Authorities have stated there is no evidence of an Islamist or terrorist motive in the attack. Separately, Berlin police arrested a 29-year-old German citizen in Neukölln on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state. The suspect allegedly traveled to Lebanon after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel to receive weapons training from Hezbollah. Authorities report that the man planned to participate in violent acts, including murder and kidnapping, but there is no indication of imminent attacks in Germany. The arrest followed a search of his residence, during which mobile phones were seized for investigation.