Federal Court of Justice overturns conviction against influencer: rocket fired into Berlin apartment – new trial ordered
The Federal Court of Justice has overturned the suspended sentence against Atallah Younes. The influencer fired a firework rocket into a Berlin apartment on New Year's Eve 2024.
Federal Court of Justice quashes Berlin judgment in rocket case – influencer Younes must return to court
As reported by Google News DE — Crime (de), the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has overturned the verdict against Berlin influencer Atallah Younes. In April 2025, the Berlin Regional Court I had sentenced the then 23-year-old to a suspended sentence of six months for property damage. The matter must now be retried in a second court proceeding.
On New Year's Eve 2024, Younes fired a firework rocket from his hand in Berlin-Neukölln. The projectile flew through a closed window into the bedroom of an apartment on the third floor and detonated there. A video of the act subsequently published on Instagram was viewed more than six million times before being deleted.
The prosecution had charged attempted serious arson, attempted grievous bodily harm and property damage, and sought a two-year suspended sentence. Younes had deliberately ignited the fireworks and accepted the risk that people would be injured. The fact that no fire broke out was pure chance.
The regional court did not follow this argument and agreed with the defence on essential points. The defendant could have been expected to assume that the window panes would withstand the impact, explained the presiding judge, referring to statements from a fire expert. Intentionality could therefore not be established.
The prosecution appealed. The 5th Criminal Senate of the Federal Court of Justice in Leipzig has now ruled in its favour: "The judgment grounds contain legal errors regarding criminal intent, in particular they contain unresolved contradictions and impose excessive requirements for the formation of conviction," the senate ruled. The Berlin Regional Court must therefore retry the case.
Source: Google News DE — Crime (de)