A knife attack in Aschaffenburg, Germany, on Wednesday resulted in the tragic deaths of a two-year-old child and a man, while two others were seriously injured. Police apprehended a 28-year-old Afghan suspect at the scene of the crime.
Details of the Attack
The stabbings occurred around 11:45 a.m. (10:45 GMT) in a public park in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg. According to German media, the attacker targeted a group of children from a nearby daycare center who were playing in the park.
“Two people were fatally injured,” police confirmed. “Another two were seriously hurt and are receiving treatment in hospital.” The authorities have not provided a motive for the attack, but investigations into the background of the crime are ongoing.
Arrest and Suspect’s History
The Afghan man, who was arrested near the crime scene, reportedly has a history of psychological issues and had been treated multiple times. While police assured the public that there were no other suspects involved, a second person was held for questioning as a witness.
Authorities cordoned off the park and temporarily suspended train services in the area after reports suggested the suspect had tried to flee across train tracks.
Previous Knife Attacks in Germany
This latest incident follows a series of deadly knife attacks in Germany. In June of the previous year, a policeman was killed during an anti-Islam rally in Mannheim. An Afghan man was arrested in connection with that attack. Later in August, a stabbing spree at a street festival in Solingen killed three people and injured eight others. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack, which sparked debates about immigration and security in Germany.
In response to such incidents, the German government tightened knife control laws, reduced benefits for asylum seekers, and granted new powers to security agencies.
Political Context
The attack comes just weeks before Germany’s national elections on February 23. The conservative CDU/CSU alliance leads in the polls with around 30%, followed by the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) at 20%. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats currently hold 16%.
The series of knife attacks in Germany has intensified the political debate over immigration, public safety, and national security ahead of the elections.
