Tuesday's verdict comes at a time of heated debate about immigration and security in Germany, and a strong surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The defendant, named only as Sulaiman A to protect his privacy, was found guilty of using a large hunting knife to attack people during a demonstration in the western city of Mannheim that was organised by the anti-Islam group Pax Europa in late May 2024.
Sulaiman A attacked a speaker and several demonstrators at the event before stabbing a police officer who rushed in to help. The officer later succumbed to his injuries.
The attacker was taken into pre-trial custody in June 2024 after leaving intensive care for injuries he sustained during his arrest.
Though prosecutors say he sympathised with the Islamic State group, he was not tried as a terrorist. He faced one count of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
Prosecutors said the defendant had been radicalised over a number of years.
They said he aimed to not only kill prominent BPE member Michael Stürzenberger, a vocal Islam critic, but also to take down as many opponents to Islam and "supposed infidels" as possible.
Sulaiman A confessed to carrying out the stabbing during the trial and showed signs of remorse.
When asked about his motive, he cited Israel's military campaign in Gaza, saying the events that began in 2023 changed his life.
Sulaiman A is said to have exchanged messages on Telegram with someone who encouraged him in his plan to kill Stürzenberger.
Sulaiman A is said to have fled his native Afghanistan at the age of 11. He arrived in Frankfurt in 2013 where he applied for asylum, DPA understands.
While his request was rejected, authorities imposed a ban on deporting him, presumably because of his age.
He did not have any previous convictions and was not known to police prior to the attack, living with his wife and two young children in a town some 35km north-east of Mannheim.
with DPA
