Knife attack on a train in Germany: Iraqi refugee leaves 5 injured

Herzogenrath (NRW) – A man stabbed travelers with a knife on a regional train near Aachen on Friday morning and injured at least three people. The suspect was caught, said a spokesman for the federal police, but his motive is still unclear.

The investigators are checking an Islamist background, said NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) in the afternoon. The perpetrator is an Iraqi-born man (31). Six were injured, including the attacker.

According to initial investigations, the knife attack occurred in the Euregiobahn RE4 at around 7.40 a.m. shortly after leaving the Herzogenrath train station. The man "randomly and arbitrarily" stabbed passengers, the victim and the perpetrator were unrelated, Reul said.

The victims suffered lacerations, one a stab wound. Four travelers were taken to a hospital, their lives were not in danger.

Minister of the Interior Reul: "Cruel act"
A federal police officer (60) in civilian clothes who happened to be sitting on the train and who was on his way to his office noticed the attacks and overpowered the perpetrator. He said to Bild: "I was on my way to work, that's all I can say."

Reul said it was "a cruel act that was stopped in an act of tremendous courage."

The Minister of the Interior continued: "According to everything we know so far, we have to assume that this act was an amok act."

The police were on site with strong forces and, among other things, took over the care of the witnesses. The Cologne police are investigating. The attacker was taken off the train in handcuffs and a body suit in the late morning.

A police spokesman told Bild: "He was taken away without leaving any traces in order to secure evidence and traces, for example on his outer clothing."

Source: Bild