Germany: Stabbing in Aschaffenburg leaves 2 dead
January 22, 2025
A stabbing in the southern German city of Aschaffenburg has left two people dead on Wednesday, local police said.
A 41-year-old man and a two-year-old boy died in the attack. Two others were seriously injured.
What do we know about the attack in Aschaffenburg?
A 28-year-old suspect who police say is from Afghanistan has been taken into custody after the killing. Another person who witnessed the attack is also being held for questioning, but is not suspected of wrongdoing.
The motives for the attack are still unclear, but police have launched an investigation.
The stabbing occurred shortly before noon at the Schöntal park near the city center.
Police said there is no longer any danger to the public after the attack. The perpetrator of the attack had attempted to run away from the crime scene across nearby railroad tracks, with German rail company Deutsche Bahn temporarily halting trains in the area.
Police in the Bavarian district of Lower Franconia where Aschaffenburg is located are calling for witnesses of the attack to send in photos and videos of the incident.
Attack comes as Germany on security alert ahead of elections
Aschaffenburg lies in the northern part of the German state of Bavaria, and is less than an hour's drive or train ride from Frankfurt.
Germany is on high alert after a car ramming attack at a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg last month left 6 people dead and almost 300 people injured.
Security in Germany's public spaces is a major topic of debate ahead of the snap German election on February 23.
wd/sms (AFP, Reuters, dpa)