Trial over plans to attack Israeli embassy in Berlin set to begin

A 19-year-old suspected Islamic State supporter, who is alleged to have planned an attack on the Israeli embassy, is due to appear at the Higher Regional Court in Berlin on Monday.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses the Russian national of Chechen descent of supporting a terrorist organization abroad and preparing a serious act of violence endangering the state.

The responsible state security chamber of the court has so far planned a total of nine trial days, meaning a verdict could be delivered on January 12, 2026.

The accused, who initially lived in a refugee home in Potsdam just outside Berlin, was arrested in February at the capital's airport.

Federal police and the Brandenburg State Criminal Police Office caught him on his way to board a plane.

According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, he intended to head towards Pakistan to join Islamic State there and receive military training. Since then, he has been in pre-trial detention.

Instructions for making explosives

According to the indictment, the 19-year-old planned from early February 2025 to carry out an attack in Germany against those he considered "infidels."

He is said to have considered the Israeli embassy as a target. To this end, he is believed to have obtained instructions for making explosives from the internet. However, the implementation reportedly failed because the man could not acquire the necessary components.

In parallel with his attack ideas, the young man is alleged to have translated propaganda material for the terrorist militia Islamic State into Russian and Chechen.

The indictment states that he went to Berlin-Brandenburg Airport on February 20. Shortly before, he reportedly sent a video pledging allegiance to the organization to a suspected Islamic State member abroad.