In July 2016, a 27-year-old Syrian refugee wearing a backpack attempted to enter a music festival in Ansbach, Germany but was turned away because he didn’t have a ticket. The man decided to take a load off and sat down in front of a wine bar. What happened next is up for debate. Some believe he accidentally detonated the explosives he was carrying, others say it was deliberate. Although 15 people were injured, the man became his only fatal casualty. First responders rushed to the scene to administer aid, but the man had already died. It’s worth noting that Ansbach is home to a US Army base.
The man has sought asylum in Germany, but was denied because he had previously been granted asylum in Bulgaria. He made an attempt on his life after being given deportation orders and received psychiatric care in Germany. Officials from the Left Party intervened on his behalf when he received a second deportation order. A video was found in the refugee center where the man resided–and constructed the bomb–which showed him pledging allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State. ISIS claimed the man as one of their “soldiers” and said they ordered attacks on countries supporting bombings in Syria.
