Horrifying moment Palestinian influencer, 24, shoots firework into child’s bedroom before he is arrested while trying to leave the country
This is the horrifying moment a Palestinian influencer shot fireworks into a child’s bedroom before being arrested as he tried to leave the country.
Footage shows Attalah Younes, 24, setting off the fireworks at an apartment building in the Berlin suburb of Neukoelln on New Year’s Eve.
The fireworks burst through the closed window on the third floor and exploded inside, appearing to set the room on fire.
No one was injured by the exploding fireworks and only the carpet and some furniture in the room were damaged, German tabloid Bild reported.
Younes’ video sparked outrage in Germany after more than 10 million people saw the tourist from Nablus, West Bank, playing with the fireworks.
Younes, who speaks only Arabic, claims he was subjected to racist attacks after the video went viral.
He was arrested at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport on Saturday, ahead of his 5.55pm flight to Jordan.
Berlin police said in a statement on Saturday: ‘A man suspected of serious arson on New Year’s Eve was arrested today by [federal police] while trying to leave the country at Berlin airport following searches by our [State Criminal Police].’
Footage shows Attalah Younes, 24, setting off the fireworks at an apartment building in the Berlin suburb of Neukoelln on New Year’s Eve
The fireworks burst through the closed window on the third floor and exploded inside, appearing to set the room on fire
If convicted, Younes could face prison time.
Just before his arrest, Younes had told a Bild reporter at the airport that he “just wanted to celebrate” and that he “didn’t know [the firework] was so dangerous’.
Shortly afterwards, armed police officers showed up and arrested him and his traveling companion.
A judge will decide today whether he will be kept in custody.
This comes after the influencer published an apology video on his Instagram account, where he sat next to the owner of the apartment he shot at.
He told the homeowner that he did not know where the fireworks would fly and that he did not intend for them to hit the apartment.
But Younes later appeared defiant when speaking to local newspaper Zeit, saying: ‘What do the police want from me? Do they think I’m a refugee?’
Above is the bedroom that was on fire after the fireworks exploded
He also told the newspaper that he was a tourist visiting Germany for the first time.
Younes said he was subjected to racist abuse after social media users told him to leave the country following his stunt.
The Palestinian influencer shared his trip to Germany with his 300,000 Instagram followers.
The video of him firing off fireworks on New Year’s Eve has now been removed.