German Officials Question Ballout's Release After 1 Dead, 29 Hurt in Berlin Pride Attack
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 27
German Officials Question Ballout's Release After 1 Dead, 29 Hurt in Berlin Pride Attack
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 27
Summary
Berlin officials on Monday pressed for answers on why 21-year-old Abdul Ballout was free despite a recent ISIS-related conviction before the attack that killed one person and injured 29.
Court records show a Berlin juvenile court sentenced Ballout earlier this year to 1 year and 10 months for preparing serious violence and spreading ISIS propaganda, then lifted his arrest warrant and deferred any probation decision for six months.
Prosecutors had already appealed, seeking a longer non-probationary sentence and continued detention, meaning the conviction was not yet legally binding when Ballout remained at large.
Ballout, a German citizen with Lebanese roots who authorities say tried to reach Syria via Lebanon to join ISIS, was fatally shot Sunday after allegedly attacking special forces with a bladed weapon during a nearly 24-hour manhunt.
The case has sharpened Germany's debate over whether courts and terrorism laws leave known Islamist suspects at liberty even after convictions tied to violent extremism.