From Kiel to Hamburg: two dead in a knife attack in Zug

Two people were killed and several injured in a knife attack on a regional train from Kiel to Hamburg. The alleged perpetrator is known to the police – and was only released from custody six days ago.

Two people were killed in a knife attack on a regional train from Kiel to Hamburg. In addition, eight people were injured, including the alleged attacker. According to Schleswig-Holstein’s Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack (CDU), the man is said to be a 33-year-old stateless Palestinian.

According to previous knowledge, the man attacked passengers on the regional train at around 2:55 p.m. with a stabbing weapon. “Two of the victims suffered fatal injuries, three others suffered serious injuries and four people suffered minor injuries,” said the police in Itzehoe. Immediately after the crime, witnesses succeeded in detaining the suspect until the police arrived at the train station in Brokstedt. The man, who was moderately injured, was taken to a hospital. 120 passengers were on the train. They were questioned for police information at a nearby inn.

There were initial indications that the alleged attacker could be mentally confused, reports the dpa news agency, citing security circles. According to preliminary findings, he had not yet been noticed as an extremist in northern Germany, but had been criminally involved several times, he learned NDR from investigative circles. Sütterlin-Waack said in NDRthat the man had been released from custody six days earlier.

Police measures on site completed

According to official information, the background to the crime is still open. In the evening, the police announced that the investigation was ongoing. The police measures have been completed on site in Brokstedt, and the train has now left the station.

The identities of those killed and injured are still “not certain beyond a doubt”. Schleswig-Holstein’s Justice Minister Kerstin von der Decken (CDU) announced that a help line had been set up for those affected.

To commemorate the victims of the attack, mourning flags will be displayed in Schleswig-Holstein on Thursday. The flags will be flown at half-mast on the official buildings of all authorities and departments in the country, as Interior Secretary Magdalena Finke announced in the evening. She also called on all districts and communities to follow the example.

“Horrible act against all humanity”

“It’s very terrible. We are all completely shocked and appalled that something like this happened,” said Sütterlin-Waack NDR. The minister got the message in the state parliament and consulted Prime Minister Daniel Günther. She arrived in Brokstedt early in the evening.

She is “in her thoughts with the families and relatives of the victims” and thanks “the police officers who arrested the perpetrator and all the rescue workers who treated the injured,” said a statement from her ministry. Federal and state police worked closely together. “It is clear to me that the horrific act is against all humanity,” Sütterlin-Waack was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Schleswig-Holstein mourns”

In the evening in Kiel, Günther spoke of a terrible and senseless act that cost the lives of two people. “Schleswig-Holstein is mourning – this is a terrible day,” said the Prime Minister. He thinks of all those who mourned and feared for the injured. His thoughts and prayers are with the people and their families. Günther thanked the emergency services for their work and also those who had taken care of the passengers and witnesses on the train and the injured.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) also expressed her sympathy after the knife attack. “All our thoughts are with the victims of this terrible act and their families,” the politician wrote on Twitter. This is “shattering news”.

Northbound trains diverted

Deutsche Bahn said in the evening: “Our deepest sympathy belongs to the relatives of the victims. We wish the injured a speedy and full recovery.”

Train traffic between Flensburg and Hamburg and between Kiel and Hamburg was severely affected. Connections to the north have been diverted on a large scale. After almost six hours, the police released the station in Brokstedt again and traffic on the route slowly started up again.