Germany: Deadly Stabbing Attack in Aschaffenburg
Attack in Public Park Injures Multiple People
BERLIN: A knife attacker in Germany killed a two-year-old child and a man and seriously wounded two others Wednesday, said police, who arrested an Afghan suspect at the scene.
Details of the Attack
The stabbings happened in a public park in the centre of the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg at around 11:45 am (1045 GMT), they said. The attacker targeted a group of children from a daycare centre who were in the park, German media reported. "Two people were fatally injured," police said, while another two were seriously hurt and receiving treatment in hospital.
Suspect Arrested
The suspect, a 28-year-old man from Afghanistan, was arrested "in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene." Police said investigations into the "background of the crime" were ongoing, without indicating a possible motive for the attack. German media reported that the man was said to have had psychological issues and had received treatment several times.
Previous Deadly Incidents
This is the latest in a series of deadly knife attacks to have shaken Germany in recent months, fuelling concerns over public safety. In June last year, a policeman was stabbed to death at an anti-Islam rally in the city of Mannheim, and a man from Afghanistan was arrested on suspicion of carrying out the knife attack. And in August, three people were killed and eight wounded in a stabbing spree at a street festival in the western city of Solingen. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group and police arrested a Syrian suspect.
Government Response
The presumed Islamist motive behind the stabbing in Solingen, and the fact that the suspect had been slated for deportation, fuelled a bitter debate in Germany over immigration. The government responded to the incident by tightening controls on knives, circumscribing benefits for asylum seekers and strengthening security services with new powers of investigation.
Election Campaign
Wednesday’s attack in Aschaffenburg comes as Germany is in the middle of a campaign ahead of national elections on February 23. The conservative CDU/CSU alliance currently leads in the polls on around 30 percent, with the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) in second with 20 percent. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s centre-left Social Democrats sit third in voter surveys, on around 16 percent.
Conclusion
The recent spate of deadly knife attacks in Germany has raised concerns over public safety and security. The government’s response to these incidents has been to tighten controls on knives, restrict benefits for asylum seekers, and strengthen security services. However, the issue of immigration remains a contentious topic in Germany, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) capitalizing on the sentiment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was the suspect arrested in the attack?
A: A 28-year-old man from Afghanistan. - How many people were injured in the attack?
A: Four people were injured, with two fatalities and two seriously hurt. - What was the motive behind the attack?
A: The motive is still under investigation. - What is the current political climate in Germany regarding immigration?
A: The issue of immigration remains a contentious topic in Germany, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) capitalizing on the sentiment.