The 29-year-old is charged with attempted murder and violation of the Al-Qaeda/IS Act after stabbing two women in the southern city of Lugano.
Another charge of financing Islamic State was later added by prosecutors along with a charge of illegal prostitution.
The court heard that the accused had intended to kill her victims in November 2020 on behalf of Islamic State. She bought a bread knife in the department store and attacked two random women, shouting “Allahu Akbar” (“God is Great”) and “Sono qui per l’ISIS” (“I am here for ISIS”).
Both victims survived the attacks, one with wounds to her neck and arms and the other to her hand.
When asked by the judge whether she was still motivated to carry out attacks, the accused answered that she would do it again but “more efficiently”.
The court heard that the accused was afflicted by a psychotic disorder resembling schizophrenia, but that the attack was nevertheless pre-meditated rather than impulsive. A psychiatrist recommended a minimum three years of treatment in a secure unit.
The woman had conducted an online relationship with a jihadist in Syria but had been thwarted in her efforts to meet him there.
One of the knifing victims has joined the prosecution privately and is demanding CHF440,000 ($455,000) in damages.
This content was published on
Some aspects of pro-Palestine sit-ins have gone too far, but the right to protest and debate must be upheld, the student association has said.
Swiss LGTBIQ helpline: attacks more than doubled in 2023
This content was published on
Three organisations jointly operating a helpline have called for more awareness, action and funding to address discrimination.
This content was published on
Switzerland's economy grew slightly at the start of 2024, with growth in the service sector contrasting with weak growth in industry.
Swiss employment rate rises in first quarter of 2024
This content was published on
The number of women and foreign nationals in employment increased particularly strongly, the Federal Statistical Office said on Thursday.
Coercion still an issue in Swiss welfare system, report finds
This content was published on
The rights of vulnerable people are still sometimes disregarded by the Swiss welfare system, a national research programme has found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Assailant in Swiss knife attack was jihadist, say police
This content was published on
A woman has been arrested in Lugano after injuring two other women with a knife in a suspected terror attack at a department store.
Swiss woman indicted for jihadist terror stabbings in Lugano
This content was published on
Federal prosecutors have filed an indictment against a Swiss woman who stabbed two people in a Lugano department store in 2020.
Man indicted for jihadist knife attack in Switzerland
This content was published on
Federal prosecutors have filed an indictment against a Swiss-Turkish man who fatally stabbed a man in Morges in 2020 in a “jihadist-motivated” attack.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.