German authorities seek extradition of Birmingham attacker
Mohammed Alfatih, convicted of wounding a court bailiff, is wanted in Germany for an alleged plot targeting Jewish people.
By Nia Foster ·
A 40-year-old man convicted of a knife attack in Birmingham is now subject to an extradition request from Germany over an alleged murder plot. Mohammed Alfatih, also identified as Mohammed Naim, was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday for unlawful wounding, possession of two knives, and criminal damage. The jury returned majority verdicts and cleared him of the more serious charge of wounding with intent.
The incident occurred on 14 October 2025 outside Alfatih’s home in Kings Heath. During a two-week trial, jurors viewed video footage of Alfatih striking the broken window of a van with a knife. Kevin Bucknall, the court bailiff, sustained cuts to his head and required hospital treatment. Alfatih had pleaded not guilty, citing self-defence. The jury was not informed of his links to Hamas or his surveillance by a counter-terrorism unit during the attack.
Alfatih is the son of a senior Hamas official. He was granted asylum in the United Kingdom in 2015 and received British citizenship in 2020. Reporting restrictions prevented his name from being used during the trial. He had previously worked for a former Hamas leader before arriving in the UK. Alfatih was released on bail on suspicion of a terror offence just days before the bailiff was assaulted.
While held in custody for the Birmingham charges, German authorities rearrested him. They stated he participated in a plot to strike Israeli targets in central Europe. Alfatih was born in Germany and is expected to be extradited there after completing his UK sentence. The German extradition request explicitly notes his connection to Hamas.
In September 2026, German prosecutors charged seven suspected Hamas members with planning to target Jews or Israelis in Germany or Austria. The timing aligned with the second anniversary of the 7 October attack on Israel. Prosecutors identified a man as Mohammed A, who played a prominent role in transporting and storing weapons. He is being prosecuted separately because UK authorities had arrested him in London. German authorities stated the suspect was connected to Hamas leadership and produced a video to claim responsibility for the planned attack.
The plot was disrupted by Germany's domestic intelligence service following a tip-off from the Mossad, Israel's secret service. A government source described the situation as a stark example of lost border control under the previous Conservative government, which granted his asylum and citizenship. The source noted that the current Labour government has introduced reforms requiring new citizens to demonstrate good character and contribution to the country.
Alfatih will serve his UK sentence before the extradition process concludes. The German authorities maintain that the case involves a coordinated effort to attack targets in central Europe. The connection between the Birmingham attack and the wider plot is detailed in the extradition documents filed with the court.
