The Afghan knifeman who went on a murderous rampage at an anti-Islam rally in Germany final week is a father-of-two who practiced Taekwondo and had been ‘nicely built-in’, sources informed German media.
Sulaiman Ataee, 25, launched a frenzied assault in Mannheim metropolis centre on Friday, stabbing well-known Islam critic Michael Stuerzenberger, a police officer and a number of other bystanders in a horrific incident which was dwell streamed on YouTube.
However so far as his buddies, neighbours and even the authorities have been involved, Ataee was a wonderfully useful, well mannered and agreeable citizen who had labored laborious to develop fluency in German.
He settled down with a spouse, had obtained a residency allow that lasted till 2026 – and based on a number of sources had displayed no non secular zeal that may mark him out as a priority.
Roughly a 12 months in the past, residents residing in Ataee’s condo advanced mentioned they observed a change – he turned noticeably colder and fewer communicative.
However they may by no means have imagined that he would have authored such a bloodthirsty assault, which left six individuals with stab wounds – and police officer Rouven L. within the morgue.
The attacker has been recognized as Sulaiman Ataee, who immigrated to Germany from Afghanistan in 2014 when he was simply 14
The savage blade is clearly seen on this seize from the YouTube dwell stream because the assault goes to stab the officer within the neck
Ataee loved doing Taekwondo in his free time, and footage from a match along with his native membership in 2014 confirmed him with a medal after he earned third place whereas sporting a crimson belt
Pictured: Police officer Rouven L., 29, stabbed to dying anti-Islam rally in Germany
He lives along with his German spouse and their two kids, aged virtually 1 and three, in a flat in Heppenheim – only a 25-minute drive from the market sq. the place he stabbed six individuals (block of flat the attacker lives in pictured above)
Residents have been visibly upset, holding placards, laying flowers and lighting candles at a vigil in Mannheim market sq.
Police turned as much as pay respects to their fallen colleague, but in addition have been readily available to make sure protesters didn’t get uncontrolled
Flowers and tributes are seen on the Mannheim market sq. the place six have been stabbed by an Afghan knifeman
Born in Herat, Afghanistan, Ataee arrived in Germany as an unaccompanied minor aged simply 14 alongside his brother.
He moved right into a youth residential group within the state of Hesse, and though his software for asylum was rejected, his tender age prevented authorities from deporting him – so he set about integrating himself into German society.
{The teenager}’s grasp of the German language improved rapidly and following a sequence of assessments was awarded a ‘B2’ degree certificates, which means he may ‘talk orally spontaneously and fluently, and perceive advanced texts’.
He additionally reportedly loved doing Taekwondo in his free time, and footage from a match along with his native membership in 2014 confirmed him with a medal after he earned third place whereas sporting a crimson belt.
By age 19, he had discovered love.
He met a German lady and the pair rapidly moved in collectively earlier than having two children – now aged three and virtually one – a feat which noticed Ataee awarded with a residence allow.
The household lived collectively in a flat in Heppenheim – only a 25-minute drive from the market sq. the place Ataee stabbed six individuals – the place he was described as a constructive member of the neighborhood by those that knew him.
However neighbours of the Afghan knifeman claimed he had begun to point out indicators he was being ‘radicalised’ during the last 12 months.
‘He was regular,’ 31-year-old neighbour Abdul informed MailOnline.
‘I’ve seen him typically along with his spouse and his kids, however I do not know that a lot about him.’
One other neighbour informed Bild: ‘He was inconspicuous, we greeted one another normally.
‘However not too long ago, a few 12 months in the past, I observed that he had modified. He was useful earlier than, then instantly he turned chilly. He instantly turned extra reserved – and likewise extra aggressive.’
Ataee’s look additionally modified in recent times. He was beforehand clear shaven however grew out a big beard.
It was later revealed that Ataee – who was reportedly unemployed and residing off advantages based on Bild – allegedly shared ISIS propaganda on YouTube previous to his assault.
German newspaper Welt linked the knifeman to a now defunct YouTube account that had posted movies of the late radical preacher Ahmad Zahir Aslamiyar.
It’s unclear whether or not German authorities knew concerning the movies previous to the assault, however Justice Minister Marco Buschmann wrote on the social media platform X late Monday that ‘there are actually clear indications of an Islamist motive’.
Federal prosecutors, who’re chargeable for terrorism and nationwide safety instances, are taking on the investigation from police in Mannheim.
MailOnline has contacted each German State Safety in addition to the Workplace for the Safety of the Structure for remark.
Anti-Muslim campaigner Michael Stuerzenberger posted this image from his hospital mattress after he was stabbed by a knifeman at an anti-Islam rally in Germany
The rampage started when man wearing a darkish hooded jacket and tracksuit, (seen centre proper) tackled a BPE member to the bottom and commenced violently swinging a big blade at him
German law enforcement officials commemorate a colleague in Mannheim Germany, after studying {that a} police officer, who was stabbed two days in the past there has died on Sunday, June 2, 2024
There was a heavy police presence on Mannheim market sq. this weekend as left and proper wing events got here collectively to voice their views
Mourners have been met by anti-immigration campaigners and activists who declare the stabbing wouldn’t have occurred if Ataee was made to ‘remigrate’ again to Afghanistan
Ataee is alleged to have lived on an property in Heppenheim in a flat on the ninth ground of a 14-storey condo block.
He rented his two-bedroom flat, shared along with his spouse and kids, for roughly 800 euros a month. The property is full with a pair of playgrounds, a number of retailers and eating places in straightforward strolling distance.
One native man whose mother and father dwell in the identical high-rise because the knifeman informed MailOnline the killer was pleasant, however largely saved himself to himself – as did his spouse.
One other neighbour informed German outlet Focus: ‘(His spouse) was colder, not as pleasant as him.
‘I simply really feel sorry for his spouse and youngsters. They must undergo now due to what that man did,’ a lady, who lives on the identical ground because the killer, mentioned.
In the meantime, mourners have turned out in droves to pay respects to the slain police officer and stabbing victims.
‘It’s undoubtedly scary, that is our method dwelling. We stroll previous [the market square] every day and can take into consideration what occurred right here and that it may occur once more any day,’ 22-year-old scholar Emilia, who got here to the scene to place down a bouquet, informed MailOnline.
However mourners have been additionally met by anti-immigration campaigners and activists who declare the stabbing wouldn’t have occurred if Ataee was made to ‘remigrate’ again to Afghanistan.
Members of the right-wing AfD and Junge Freiheit events held a protest on Mannheim’s market sq. on Sunday afternoon, as pro-peace activists held a counter protest.
However chaos broke out when far-left Antifa activists began their chants as they pushed ahead, which brought about dozens of armed law enforcement officials to run on the group to disperse them with pepper spray.
At the least one man was arrested and led to one of many many police vans on the scene in handcuffs.
Stuerzenberger (proper) tumbles to the bottom following the preliminary assault as different BPE members push the knifeman away
The attacker broke free and turned his blade on different bystanders, together with a police officer
The knifeman didn’t reply to officers’ orders and was shot at close to point-blank vary
Residents in Mannheim metropolis centre have been seen visibly upset whereas laying flowers and lighting candles on the seen of yesterday’s stabbing incident
A sober temper in Mannheim metropolis centre the day after knifeman went on the rampage
The surprising spree unfolded on Friday morning in Mannheim metropolis centre the place anti-Islam campaigner Michael Stuerzenberger was talking at an occasion of the Residents’ Motion Pax Europa (BPE) – a gaggle that advocates towards the ‘Islamisation’ of Europe.
Chaos broke out at an when Ataee tackled Stuerzenberger to the bottom and violently swung a big blade at him, prompting terrified screams from onlookers.
Different BPE members sprinted over and tried to pull the knifeman away, however the would-be killer wriggled free and dove on high of the bloodied sufferer to plunge the weapon in for a second time.
Police descended on the scene virtually instantly – however not earlier than Ataee had left two individuals mendacity on the ground, blood pooling on the cobblestones.
Officer Rouven L. then made a deadly mistake. Amid the confusion, he waded in and jumped on one of many victims, seemingly having mistaken him for the aggressor.
This misinterpret of the state of affairs gave the bloodthirsty attacker an opportunity to circle behind and ram his blade into the policeman’s neck.
His colleagues have been heard screaming ‘throw the knife away!’ – however with the knifeman not responding to any orders the officers opened hearth from close to level clean vary and despatched him crashing to the bottom.
The attacker and his victims have been rushed to hospital, whereas the surprising incident was rapidly labelled a terror assault by the BPE.
