Mogadishu, Somalia — German authorities have decided not to deport a Somali man responsible for a 2021 knife attack in the Bavarian city of Würzburg, citing the danger he could face if returned to Somalia.
The man, whose name has been withheld under German privacy laws, killed three women and injured several others during the attack in June 2021, which shocked the country and drew widespread condemnation. He was later found to be mentally unfit for trial and was committed indefinitely to a psychiatric facility.
German officials said that sending him back to Somalia would violate international human rights protections, as the country remains unstable and lacks the medical and legal infrastructure to ensure his safety and continued psychiatric care.
The decision aligns with Germany’s obligations under asylum and human rights law, which prevent deportation to nations where individuals face a risk of torture, inhumane treatment, or death.
The ruling has sparked debate within Germany, where questions about immigration, mental health, and public safety have resurfaced. Families of the victims and local officials have expressed frustration, arguing that the man’s continued stay in Germany represents a failure of justice.
For many in Somalia, the case has drawn renewed attention to the struggles of migrants who fled conflict and poverty only to encounter mental health crises and isolation abroad.
While the ruling may shield the man from potential harm in Somalia, it leaves unresolved the broader questions of accountability, integration, and the limits of humanitarian law in cases involving violent crimes.