Further details have emerged about an 18-year-old Moroccan accused of killing two people and injuring eight others in the Finnish city of Turku last week. The suspect temporarily lived in Germany before heading to Finland, where he was denied asylum.The suspect behind the Friday stabbing attack, which the police are treating as terrorism-related murder and attempted murder, lived in Germany in 2015 and 2016 for several months, German media report citing officials.
The Moroccan man, identified as Abderrahman Mechkah, did not apply for asylum in Germany during his stay, a spokeswoman for Germany's interior minister told the media on Monday. However, he had been assisted by a civil servant, German officials say, without commenting further.
This article in German has more information:
The stabber used several aliases while in Germany. He was fingerprinted in Lower Saxony in November of 2015.
In Hamburg he came to the authorities' attention because of his illegal immigrant status.
In Neuss he was accused of criminal assault (apparently there was no arrest or prosecution though.)
In Dortmund his file at the foreigners administration office (Auslaenderbehoerde) was updated to a status of "moved to location unknown" in April of 2016.
In addition two of the other four arrestees were in Germany as well.
One of them used more than five aliases while in Germany. In Hamburg and Goettingen his files contain references to illegal immigration and robbery (again apparently no arrest or prosecution.)
Another suspect came to the authorities attention because of theft committed in Hamburg. Also, in Osnabrueck an arrest warrant was issued for him.
| One wonders if each gentleman was collecting financial support for all of his aliases, rather than just one. This suggests not nearly as many migrants arrived as were counted, a good thing... |