Failed asylum seeker pledged allegiance to ISIL before setting off bomb in German city

The attack, which was claimed by the extremist group, injured 15 people.

A police officer at the scene of an apparent suicide attack in Ansbach, Germany. The bomber, a Syrian migrant, was killed and 12 others injured. Daniel Roland / AFP Photo

ANSBACH // A Syrian man whose asylum bid had been rejected in Germany recorded a video of himself pledging allegiance to ISIL before he tried to get into a music festival with a bomb-laden backpack. He was turned away and blew himself up outside a wine bar instead, injuring 15 people, authorities said on Monday.

The attack, which was claimed by ISIL, was the fourth to shake Germany in a week, and the third to be carried out by a recent migrant to the country.

The 27-year-old, identified by federal prosecutors as Mohammad D in line with German privacy laws, set off a backpack laden with explosives and shrapnel on Sunday night after being refused entry to the festival in the Bavarian city of Ansbach because he didn’t have a ticket.

Bavarian authorities said a video found on the bomber’s phone showed him pledging allegiance to ISIL. German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said it was too early to rule out terrorism as a motive, but noted that the suspect had twice attempted suicide and had been receiving psychological care.

“Or it could be a combination of both,” he added.

ISIL said the attack was carried out by “one of the soldiers of the Islamic State” who had responded to calls by the group to target member countries of the US-led coalition fighting the extremists.

A 17-year-old Afghan asylum seeker injured five with an axe before being killed by police near Wuerzburg on Monday last week in an attack that was claimed by ISIL. Then on Sunday, a Syrian asylum seeker killed a woman with a knife in the southwestern city of Reutlingen before being captured by police in an incident that authorities say was not likely linked to terrorism.

In between those two attacks, the 18-year-old son of Iranian asylum seekers went on a rampage on Friday night at a Munich shopping centre, killing nine and wounding dozens. Authorities say he was undergoing psychological treatment and had no known links to terrorism.

The attack in Ansbach, a serene city of about 40,000 west of Nuremberg, came near the end of the closing night of a popular open air festival being attended by about 2,000 people.

Following the Munich shooting, city officials had ordered extra security and bag checks at the entrance of the venue, but the man never got that far, being turned away for lack of a ticket.

Roman Fertinger, the deputy police chief in Nuremberg, said there likely would have been more casualties if the man had not been turned away.

Four of the 15 victims suffered serious injuries.

“My personal view is that I unfortunately think it’s very likely this really was an Islamist suicide attack,” said Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann.

Mr Herrmann said the man’s request for asylum was rejected a year ago, and a spokesman for Germany’s interior ministry said he had received two deportation notices.

Tobias Plate said the man was told on July 13 that he would be deported to Bulgaria, where he submitted his first asylum request.

Asylum seekers are routinely deported to the first country where they registered if they don’t follow proper procedures, even if they’re considered to have a legitimate claim for asylum.

The unidentified man had repeatedly received psychiatric treatment, including twice for attempted suicide, authorities said, and had been known to police for drug possession.

Authorities on Monday morning raided the asylum shelter where he lived in the suburbs of Ansbach and searched his room.

One resident there said he had occasionally drunk coffee with the attacker and that they had discussed religion. Alireza Khodadadi said the man, whom he would identify only as Mohammed, had told him that ISIL was not representative of Islam.

“He always said that, no, I’m not with them, I don’t like them and such stuff. But I think he had some issues because, you know, he told lies so often without any reason, and I understand that he wants to be in the centre of [attention], you know, he needed [attention],” Mr Khodadadi said.

A team of 30 investigators was interviewing the man’s acquaintances and examining evidence collected from his home.

* Associated Press