German police kill known Islamic terrorist in western Berlin after he attacked and seriously injured female officer with a knife 

  • Security officials named attacker as Iraqi national Rafik Mohamad Yousef
  • Female officer was seriously wounded in attack, remains in intensive care
  • Officers were called to Spandau, in Berlin, as he wielded knife in the street
  • Yousef convicted of belonging to al-Qaeda-linked group seven years ago

By Imogen Calderwood For Mailonline

Published: 13:47 EST, 17 September 2015 | Updated: 20:58 EST, 17 September 2015

Extremist: German police arrested Iraqi national Rafik Mohamad Yousef (pictured) after he attacked a police officer with a knife on the streets of Berlin

Extremist: German police arrested Iraqi national Rafik Mohamad Yousef (pictured) after he attacked a police officer with a knife on the streets of Berlin

German police have shot and killed a known Islamic extremist, after he went on a rampage with a knife on the streets of Berlin. 

The attacker, named by security officials as Rafik Mohamad Yousef, threatened passers-by and seriously injured a female officer with the weapon.

Police officers were called to Spandau, in western Berlin, in response to reports that a man was wielding a knife in the street. 

The 41-year-old man attacked the female officer with the weapon before another officer shot and killed him. 

Yousef, an Iraqi national, was convicted of belonging to an al-Qaeda-linked terror group seven years ago, according to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to release the man's name. 

Frank Henkel, the interior minister for the state of Berlin, said the reasons for the attack were still unclear. 

'There are indications that this wasn't a planned act,' said Henkel in a statement. 

But he added that due to the man's history, 'a religious motive can't be excluded'.

Yousef was arrested in December 2004 after German officials suspected him and two others of being part of a plot by the Ansar al-Islam group to attack former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi during a visit to Berlin.  

Terror suspect: Yousef was arrested in December 2004 after German officials suspected him and two others of being part of a plot by the Ansar al-Islam group to attack former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi during a visit to Berlin (file photo) 

Terror suspect: Yousef was arrested in December 2004 after German officials suspected him and two others of being part of a plot by the Ansar al-Islam group to attack former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi during a visit to Berlin (file photo) 

German authorities wanted to deport him to Iraq after his release in 2013 but were unable to do so because he could have faced the death penalty in connection with the attempted assassination, Henkel said.

Yousef was ordered to wear an electronic tag, which he removed on Thursday morning.

Police spokesman Stefan Redlich said the injured officer was in a stable condition, but remained in intensive care. 

 

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