Syrian on trial in Germany for fighting with ISIS group
BERLIN - A Syrian asylum-seeker went on trial in Germany on Wednesday accused of being a member of the Islamic State group and scouting out Berlin landmarks for a possible attack.
The hearing began two weeks after an attack on a Christmas market in the German capital, in which 12 people were killed and dozens more were injured. The Islamic State group said one of its members, a 24-year-old Tunisian who was shot dead days later by Italian police, carried out that attack.
Prosecutors don't believe that Shaas al-Mohammad, the 20-year-old defendant now on trial, was involved in the Christmas market attack, but cited it as one reason for allowing the public to observe the trial. Judges rejected a defense motion to exclude the public due to the defendant's young age.
