Fighting terrorism: Indictment filed in relation to Jihadist knife attack in Lugano
Bern, 18.05.2022 - The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has filed an indictment in the Federal Criminal Court against a 29-year-old Swiss woman resident in the canton of Ticino in connection with the knife attack on 24 November 2020 on two women in a department store in Lugano. The suspect is primarily charged with attempted murder and violation of the Al-Qaeda/IS Act. The OAG alleges that she intended to kill her victims and to commit a terrorist act on behalf of IS.
According to the indictment, the suspect acted wilfully and with particular ruthlessness. She brutally attacked her randomly selected victims with a knife, with the aim of killing them and thereby spreading terror throughout the population on behalf of the "Islamic state" (IS), triggering widespread reports in the media and thus propagating IS ideology. One of the two victims sustained serious neck injuries in the attack. The second victim, helped by others at the scene, succeeded in overpowering the suspect and detaining her until the police arrived.
The suspect, a Swiss citizen, is charged with attempted murder (Art. 112 Swiss Criminal Code (SCC) in conjunction with Art. 22 para. 1 SCC) and violation of the Federal Act on the Proscription of the Groups ‘Al-Qaeda’ and ‘Islamic state’ and Associated Organisations (SR 122, “Al-Qaeda/IS Act”). She is also charged with unlawful prostitution (Art. 199 SCC). She was in in pre-trial detention since her arrest on 24 November 2020, but has been placed on accelerated execution of sentence since August 2021.
The initial measures in this case were carried out by the authorities in Ticino. The OAG assumed responsibility for the case promptly and continued the investigations, assisted by fedpol, because the OAG is responsible for investigating in the case of Jihadist and other terrorist crimes. The OAG wishes to thank the authorities in Ticino for rapidly carrying out the initial measures required and for their valuable cooperation.
As is customary, the OAG will announce the penalties that it is proposing at the main hearing before the Federal Criminal Court. With the filing of the indictment, the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona becomes responsible for answering any further media enquiries. The presumption of innocence applies until a legally binding judgment has been issued.
Original text in German
Address for enquiries
Communication Service of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, T +41 58 464 32 40, info@ba.admin.ch
Publisher
Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland
http://www.ba.admin.ch/
