The 22-year-old German, Marius Dick, was stabbed to death with a kitchen knife in the city of Trier in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate on 15 July 2026. The young history student was on his way home from the local shop when he was killed.

Marius suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken to hospital, but died shortly afterwards. Witnesses describe a brutal, unprovoked attack without warning. The perpetrator is a 26-year-old Afghan who has lived in Germany for several years. Local authorities had previously described him as “well integrated”, but immediately after the murder he was reclassified by the police and compliant media from well integrated to “mentally unstable”.

– An “isolated” incident carried out by a “mentally unstable” perpetrator

The perpetrator was arrested shortly after the attack. He was reportedly already known to the police, though not for serious criminal offences.

According to several witnesses and local media, the Afghan – shielded behind the incomplete name Sajad M. – shouted “Allahu Akbar” during or immediately before the attack, but dominant media have been cautious about mentioning this.

The authorities are now also presenting the case as the result of mental illness. Sajad M. has confessed to the crime and has since been admitted to a psychiatric institution.

The police describe the victim as random.

Friedrich Merz had called Marius Dick’s parents to give his condolences on their son’s random murder by an Afghan asylum seeker.

22-year-old Marius Dick was just about to start a Master’s Degree program in military history when he was stabbed in the heart by Sajad M.

Marius… pic.twitter.com/T1AafdS6nW

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 21, 2026

The case has attracted justified attention, grief and anger in Germany. Many point to a recurring pattern:

A “well-integrated” migrant with a Muslim background commits brutal violence against a young German (the same also applies to other Western European nationalities). The authorities are quick and routine in classifying the act as an “isolated” incident and the perpetrator as “mentally unstable”. They also profess not to understand what the motive might be, despite the stabbing having been accompanied by a glorification of Allah: “Allahu Akbar”.

People whose common sense remains intact see an obvious connection between the act and the manual:

Elke, Thomas and Johannes

Elke and Thomas Dick live together with Marius’ 17-year-old younger brother, Johannes. His mother describes Marius as an open and cheerful young man:

– Our son was open and outgoing. He would never have harmed anyone. But now we have lost him in the most unimaginable, terrible way. Something like this should never happen to any mother.

Marius studied history at the University of Trier. He had just completed his final examinations and had almost finished his bachelor’s degree. He planned to continue his studies in Potsdam.

– He wanted to take a master’s degree in military history there, says his mother.

Thomas, Marius’ father, is calling on Germany to awaken from its slumber. According to him, the country’s citizens are not protected against this type of violence.

– We have lost what we loved most to this indescribable crime. Our son was murdered in the street in broad daylight. Our son’s case must awaken Germany. I appeal to the political establishment, to the state government and to the federal government to protect our citizens; we are not safe in our own streets. I want justice for my son.

Marius’ case is not unique:

Her name was Liana, she was a 16-year-old Ukrainian refugee living in Germany.

She was walking home from her apprenticeship when a migrant began sexually harassing her.

Terrified, Liana called her grandfather for help, telling him that a migrant was chasing her and sexually… pic.twitter.com/OxFuQ0mk3a

— Francesco 🇮🇹 (@SaP011) July 20, 2026