A German woman, aged 39, has been charged in connection with a mass stabbing incident that occurred at Hamburg’s main train station. According to police reports, the number of injured has now risen to 18.
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The suspect was apprehended at the scene yesterday during the busy evening rush hour, leaving the city in a state of shock. Hamburg police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth noted, “We have no evidence to suggest a political motive,” adding that the woman may have been “experiencing a psychological emergency.”
Following the stabbing, which resulted in at least four victims suffering life-threatening injuries, the suspect was taken into custody without incident.
The police have confirmed that the suspect is scheduled to appear before a judge on Saturday and is believed to have acted alone.
The attack unfolded shortly after 6 PM local time on one of the station’s platforms, where it is reported that the suspect targeted passengers in front of a stationary train, as revealed by a spokesperson for the Hanover federal police directorate, which oversees Hamburg.
Victims received medical attention on board trains standing at the station, as confirmed by the German newspaper Bild. Images from the scene depicted police blocking access to the platforms, while injured individuals were being loaded into ambulances.
Forensic investigators were seen meticulously examining the area where the incident occurred. In response to the attack, the German rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, announced the closure of four platforms while investigations are underway, expressing its “deep shock” over the incident.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also expressed his concerns following a conversation with Hamburg’s mayor. “My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” remarked Mr. Merz, according to a statement released by his spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius.
Germany has recently faced a troubling series of violent attacks, often motivated by jihadist or far-right extremism, which have escalated the focus on security matters. Just last Sunday, four individuals were injured in a stabbing incident at a bar in Bielefeld, prompting federal prosecutors to take over the investigation after the Syrian suspect expressed jihadist beliefs to the authorities.
The issue of security, coupled with discussions surrounding the immigrant backgrounds of some attackers, has become a significant topic in recent election campaigns. In the February elections, the conservative CDU/CSU party led the polls, while the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany achieved a record support of over 20%.
As the investigation continues, the community remains in shock, wrestling with the implications of this tragic event.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
