Rafik Yousef

Rafik Mohamad Yousef (born 27 August 1974 in Baghdad, Iraq) was an Islamist terrorist who was tried and convicted for plotting to assassinate the Prime Minister of Iraq during his visit to Germany in 2004, served time, and, after being released from prison, was shot and killed when he attacked a German police officer with a knife in Berlin on September 17, 2015.[1][2]

Yousef was 41 years old and a citizen of Iraq.[1]

2004 assassination attempt

In 2004, Yousef and two other Iraqis, Ata R. and Mazen H., planned to assassinate Iraq's then-current Prime Minister, Ayad Allawi, while he visited Germany. The assassination was planned to take place during an appearance by Allawi in Berlin at Deutsche Bank on December 3, 2004.[3]

The three were among more than 20 alleged affiliates of Ansar al-Islam, a radical Islamist group linked to al-Qaeda,[4] arrested in Europe in 2004 as security officials asserted that the group was sneaking trained operatives into Europe to carry out attacks.[5]

The three were convicted of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, and sentenced to prison.[6][1][4] They were arrested separately on 3 December 2004.[4] Yousef served an eight-year sentence and was freed in 2013, but he was required to wear an electronic leg tag.[7] He removed the tag before attacking the police officer in 2015.

2015 police officer attack

The attack took place in the Spandau district of Berlin. Police were alerted to a "madman with a knife" who was threatening passersby.[8] As the first police officer arrived at the scene and emerged from her vehicle, Yousef attacked, stabbing her in the neck just above her protective vest. Her partner immediately drew his gun and shot him four times, killing him.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Huggler, Justin (17 September 2015). "Islamic terrorist shot dead after Berlin attack on policewoman". Telegraph. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Iraqi man shot dead in Berlin after stabbing policewoman". The Guardian. Agence France. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Suspects in plot to kill Iraqi premier in 2004 indicted in Germany". BBC. 28 March 2006. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ansar al-Islam in Germany: Iraqis Convicted of Allawi Assasination [sic] Plot". Der Spiegel. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Czuczka, Tony (8 January 2005). "German authorities say Islamic militants behind Allawi assassination plot are sending fighters from Iraq to Europe". Union Tribune. AP. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Ansar al-Islam in Germany: Iraqis Convicted of Allawi Assasination [sic] Plot". Spiegel. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "Germany police shoot Berlin Islamist after knife attack". BBC. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  8. ↑ Ford, Dana (17 September 2015). "Police kill Iraqi man in Berlin after knife attack on street". CNN. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
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