BERLIN // A Syrian asylum seeker went on trial in Germany on Wednesday accused of being a member of the ISIL and scouting out potential targets in Berlin.
It was the country’s first trial of a suspected ISIL militant deployed to Germany from Syria during the chaotic 2015 refugee influx — in contrast to “lone wolf” attacks or plots by extremists who were radicalised elsewhere.
The hearing began two weeks after an attack on a Christmas market in the German capital killed 12 people and injured dozens more. ISIL said the attack was carried out by one of its members, 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri, who was shot dead days later by Italian police.
Prosecutors do not believe that Shaas Al Mohammad, the 20-year-old defendant now on trial, was involved in the Christmas market attack, but cited it as one reason for allowing the public to observe the trial. Judges rejected a request from the defence to exclude the public due to the defendant’s young age.
Federal prosecutor Gerwin Moldenhauer told the court that Al Mohammad joined ISIL in Syria in 2013 and underwent military training, learning how to handle an AK-47 assault rifle and taking part in combat operations. He then allegedly performed armed guard duty during the siege of the eastern Syrian city of Deir el-Zour and its airport in 2013 and 2014, and also helped transport supplies for the group.
Prosecutors alleged that he remained in the service of ISIL after coming to Germany as an asylum seeker in summer 2015. Phone records, WhatsApp messages and other evidence showed that Al-Mohammad sent his ISIL associates details about tourist groups visiting Berlin’s popula landmarks, the Brandenburg Gate, Alexanderplatz and the Reichstag parliament building — apparently in preparation for an attack. The prosecution also allege Al Mohammad recruited at least one new member, offered himself as a contact for extremists planning attacks in Germany, and even offered to carry out an attack himself or to return to Syria as a combatant. He is charged with membership of a foreign terrorist organisation and violating weapons laws and has been in custody since hsi arrest on March 22. He has admitted only to selling supplies to ISIL members.
Dressed in a blue pullover and a black cap and seated behind a pane of reinforced glass, Al Mohammad kept his eyes on his interpreter and remained silent as his lawyers tried in vain to convince the judge to hold the hearings behind closed doors. He confirmed his name, address, date and place of birth to the judge but declined to state his last occupation. Through a translator, he told the court he would not make statements or answer questions during cross-examination.e defendant, who has been in jail since his arrest on March 22, told the court through a translator that he would not make statements or answer questions during cross-examination.
The trial is taking place at a special state security court in Berlin. Two police lorries were parked outside the entrance throughout the hearing, with officers armed with machine guns guarding the proceedings. He is charged with membership of a foreign terrorist organisation, which carries up to 10 years in jail, and military weapons law violations
His lawyer told the court that Al Mohammad was not a member of ISIL but belonged to a different group, called Jund ar-Rahman, and had no desire to carry out attacks in Germany. Tarig Elobied said WhatsApp chats — in which his client allegedly went by the name “He who yearns for paradise” — showed he had not sworn allegiance to ISIL.
After the hearing, Mr Elobied said his client’s trial had already been influenced by the Christmas market attack, citing the court’s dismissal of his motion to exclude the public.
“We as Berliners are affected by this and of course the judges, who work in Berlin, are affected too,” he said.
The trial is scheduled to continue until April.
Court spokeswoman Lisa Jani said the possible sentence Al-Mohammad could face depended on whether he is convicted under juvenile or adult law. The former entails a maximum sentence of five years, while the second could result in a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
* Associated Press
