Zurich court convicts 15-year-old for antisemitic knife attack
A radicalised teenager has been convicted of a fatal attack on an Orthodox Jew in Zurich. The prison sentence will not be served, but will be replaced by therapeutic measures.
Zurich court convicts 15-year-old for antisemitic knife attack
A district court for juvenile criminal matters in Dielsdorf has sentenced a young man to twelve months of custodial detention. However, the sentence has been suspended to allow the young man to receive therapeutic support.
The defendant, a Swiss national of Tunisian background, was 15 years old at the time of the offence. On 2 March 2024, he attacked a man from the Jewish community in Zurich's city centre with a blade, putting him in danger of his life. Shortly beforehand, he is said to have attempted to break into a place of worship.
Investigators believe the perpetrator became radicalised online and was close to the terrorist organisation "Islamic State". In addition to the charge of attempted murder, the prosecution also brought charges of assistance to a criminal association and incitement to hatred.
The presiding judge strongly condemned the antisemitic motive. At the same time, he acquitted the defendant of the charge of threatening multiple people. The defence had pleaded for a lighter sentence and demanded a six-month prison term without actual execution – the court rejected this.
Source: Watson
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)