Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Two people, including a two-year-old boy, were killed and two others were severely injured in a stabbing attack in Bavaria on Wednesday, German police said. Police said a suspect was detained in the knife attack, which occurred in a park in the southern German town of Aschaffenburg. Rescue vehicles are seen near a crime scene in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, where two people were killed in a knife attack. (Ralf Hettler/dpa via AP) Rescue and security worker are seen near a crime scene in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025, where two people were killed in a knife attack. (Ralf Hettler/dpa via AP) BERLIN (AP) — Two people, including a 2-year-old boy, were killed and three others injured in a stabbing attack in Bavaria on Wednesday. The suspect, a former asylum-seeker who was supposed to be leaving Germany, was arrested. The attack occurred just before noon in a park in Aschaffenburg, a city of about 72,000 people. Bavaria’s top security official, Joachim Herrmann, said the assailant attacked the boy, who was part of a group of kindergarten children, with a kitchen knife. He said the 2-year-old of Moroccan origin was killed, along with a 41-year-old German man who was passing by and appeared to have intervened to protect the other children. Bavarian officials said two adults and a 2-year-old Syrian girl were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment, and none of their lives were in danger. Other passers-by chased the suspect and he was arrested 12 minutes after the attack, Herrmann said. He said the suspect, a 28-year-old Afghan national, had come to authorities’ attention at least three times because of acts of violence. On each occasion, he was sent for psychiatric treatment and later released. The suspect is believed to have arrived in Germany in November 2022 and applied for asylum in early 2023, Herrmann said. On Dec. 4, he told authorities that he would leave the country voluntarily and would seek papers from the Afghan consulate. A week later, German authorities formally closed asylum proceedings and told him to leave. Police will work over the coming days to identify his motive, Herrmann said, adding that suspicions so far point to his psychiatric illness. A first search of his room at a refugee home found no evidence that he had radical Islamic views, and only turned up medicine that would fit with his psychiatric treatment, he said. The attack is politically sensitive a month before Germany’s national election. Scholz issued a strongly-worded statement condemning what he called “an incomprehensible act of terror.” “I am tired of such acts of violence happening here every few weeks — by perpetrators who came to us to find protection here,” he said. “Mistaken tolerance is inappropriate here. Authorities must clear up at high pressure why the attacker was still in Germany at all.” That must lead to “immediate consequences — it is not enough to talk,” Scholz added. He didn’t elaborate. Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Four weeks before Germany’s federal elections the establishment parties are only interested in one thing: agitating against refugees and migrants The various leading candidates try to outdo one another with demands for deportations and border closures The attack by a 28-year-old refugee from Afghanistan on a kindergarten group in Aschaffenburg in which a two-year-old child and a 41-year-old man were killed and three other people injured has provided them with an opportune occasion to do so Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democrat SPD) spoke of an “act of terror” and declared: “I am sick and tired of seeing such acts of violence occurring in our country every few weeks.” He blamed the Christian Democrats (CDU) who had blocked his government’s repressive security package in the Bundesrat (upper chamber of parliament) for party-political reasons I will instruct the Interior Ministry to permanently control Germany’s borders with all of our neighbours and reject all attempts at illegal entry without exception.” In fact this would be tantamount to an entry ban for anyone without valid entry documents and would be a clear violation of the German constitution and applicable EU law Bavarian state Premier and CSU Chairman Markus Söder called for a “zero tolerance” policy Green Party Agriculture and Education Minister Cem Özdemir told Der Spiegel that the migration issue was the decisive lever for mobilising voters “We Greens are focussing on humanity and order We have to add the words limitation and practicality.” The Alternative for Germany (AfD) can hardly contain its delight that its anti-immigration propaganda is being copied by the other parties AfD lead candidate Alice Weidel addressed an open letter to CDU leader Merz in which she described it as a “good sign that you have obviously adopted urgently needed solutions proposed by my parliamentary group to bring about a change of course in migration policy Weidel called on Merz to initiate the “overdue migration turnaround” in the Bundestag (parliament) together with the AfD before the election an anti-migration split off from the Left Party She blamed the “failure of the chancellor and his interior minister” for the attack in Aschaffenburg and described it as an “asylum policy scandal” that the government was not deporting more refugees “Anyone travelling from a safe third country should not be entitled to any support in Germany,” she demanded The murder of a small child is a terrible act that is emotionally disturbing no one should allow themselves to be politically swayed by it The perpetrator was obviously mentally ill and urgently needed appropriate treatment had arrived in Germany from Afghanistan via the Balkan route in November 2022 and had applied for asylum According to the European Union’s Dublin rules he was to be deported to Bulgaria immediately but this failed for reasons that are not yet known he has been admitted to psychiatric clinics three times but has always been released finally agreed to leave Germany voluntarily the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees asked him to leave the country If he had received the urgently needed psychological counselling such humanitarian considerations are not even being considered by the establishment parties and media They only know one answer to the growing plight of refugees: seal off the borders against shares the fate of hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing war zones in urgent need of support and who are instead being put under even more pressure by inhumane asylum policies—but who are neither violent nor criminal as a result The inhumane treatment of refugees is an expression of a deeply sick society Billions have been and are being spent to bomb entire countries to rubble—Afghanistan Yet the victims who manage to escape from the inferno at the risk of their lives are treated like vermin the abuse and death of children is part of everyday life in Germany this is hardly ever reported if those responsible are not migrants or refugees 152 children died violently in Germany in 2020 while 134 other children faced attempted homicide almost 5,000 cases of physical abuse and 14,500 cases of sexual violence against children were reported There is a close link between the abuse of children and the constant cuts in spending on nurseries But instead of countering this by raising taxes on the rich and expropriating the billionaires refugees are being made the scapegoats for the social crisis and used as a lightning rod for social tensions The revolutionary Marxist Leon Trotsky characterised the Nazi agitation in 1933 with the words: “What must be done in order to improve things throttle those who are underneath.” This has not changed since then which now stands at the centre of their election campaigns the establishment parties are pursuing two goals: dividing the working class and building a police state The massive stepping up of the powers and capabilities of the police which is being carried out today in the name of repelling refugees will be directed against protesting and striking workers and young people tomorrow He has ordered raids on millions of migrants the construction of detention centres and the deployment of thousands of soldiers to the border with Mexico These are the first steps towards building a police state and establishing a military dictatorship There is no resistance to this from the official opposition They may berate his threats of punitive tariffs and fear he will divide the EU and end the Ukraine war at their expense criticism of his fascist policies and his brutal actions against refugees have largely disappeared from the official discourse Trump’s fascist tirades and gangster-like policies are met with open admiration This was exemplified in Davos at the annual meeting of the rich and powerful When Trump delivered a bizarre speech via video that combined shameless self-praise with mafia-style threats and propositions some of the most powerful corporate leaders literally crawled in the dust before him and praised him to the skies Trump epitomises the rule of the oligarchs He demonstrates that democracy and the unlimited wealth of a few are incompatible The establishment parties in Germany are following the same path Only the working class can prevent a relapse into fascism and war by intervening in political events defending its social and democratic rights and expropriating the banks The defence of the rights of refugees and migrants is an inseparable part of this struggle You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Mourners visit the site of Wednesday's stabbing attack in Aschaffenburg which killed two people including a toddler the overused term by CDU/CSU politicians describing their policy of no cooperation with the AfD For a moment after the attack in Aschaffenburg, Merz appeared to change his tune, proposing a five-point plan and announcing that he would work with anyone who went along with it there would be a de facto entry ban for anyone without valid entry documents The federal police would have the right to apply for arrest warrants for people apprehended at the border or airports and the number of places in custody pending deportation would be increased offenders and dangerous individuals who are obliged to leave the country should be detained indefinitely Merz also said that “deportations and returns must take place on a daily basis,” with the federal government making its own contribution Calling the CDU’s bluff, the AfD’s Alice Weidel yesterday sent an open letter addressing Merz in which she suggested that most of these points could already be made law with existing parliamentary majorities and that it is unnecessary to wait for the results of the next month’s elections As expected, the CDU rejected the offer Yet refusing this offer may prove more poisonous than accepting it The “firewall” increasingly resembles an obsession for Merz who now comes across as a politician who would rather risk German lives than vote for a single bill alongside a particular rival party What he considers a strategy could easily be interpreted as aloof arrogance indicative of a conservative party which believes it is entitled to rule but it is equally likely that he is walling himself in and that he and his party will realise this once election results come in on 23 February Ralph Schoellhammer is assistant professor of International Relations at Webster University Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Please click here to view our media pack for more information on advertising and partnership opportunities with UnHerd. People gather outside the St. Peter and Alexander Abbey Basilica, in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Sunday Jan. 26, 2025, as officials and residents attend a solemn Mass to honor a child and a man killed in a knife attack. (Daniel Vogl/dpa via AP) Wreaths of flowers on behalf of the Free State of Bavaria and the Federal Government are placed at the memorial site for the victims of a knife attack ahead of a Mass at the St. Peter and Alexander Abbey Basilica, in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Sunday Jan. 26, 2025. (Daniel Vogl/dpa via AP) Police officers accompany an arrested suspect, second left, to the magistrate’s court in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 following the fatal attack in a park. (Daniel Loeb/dpa via AP) A woman places a mourning candle on a bench next to flowers and cuddly toys in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 following the fatal attack in a park. (Daniel Loeb/dpa via AP) Two teddy bears and numerous candles are placed in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 following the fatal attack in a park. (Daniel Vogl/dpa via AP) Numerous people attend a silent memorial event in Aschaffenburg, Germany, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 following the fatal attack in a park. (Daniel Vogl/dpa via AP) The ecumenical religious service at the Catholic Basilica of St. Peter and Alexander in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, was briefly suspended for the tolling of the city’s bells at the exact time that the attack took place on Wednesday, 11:45 a.m. Bavaria governor Markus Söder, Aschaffenburg Mayor Jürgen Herzing and Muslim imam Zischan Mehmood addressed the congregation that included rescuers, to express grief and disbelief at the loss of lives. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser was also present. “Compassion, solidarity and cohesion are more important than ever, because there are many dividers and agitators around us,” Mehmood told the people gathered in and outside the church. “We must never allow grief and pain to tear us apart.” Söder said the attack was a “senseless, brutal and disturbing crime.” “Good and evil are not a question of origin, nationality, ethnicity or faith,” Söder said, and stressed that the killings should not lead to divisions because “incitement is the wrong answer.” Before attending the service, Faeser and Söder laid wreaths at the site of the attack. A 2-year-old boy of Moroccan origin, who was part of a group of kindergarten children, was killed, along with a 41-year-old German man who apparently intervened to protect the children in a city park. The arrested suspect is a 28-year-old former asylum-seeker from Afghanistan who had been told to leave Germany. Officials said he had received psychiatric treatment and there was no immediate indication that he was motivated by extremism. He is being held in a psychiatric hospital, according to the German news agency, dpa. Bavarian officials said two adults and a 2-year-old Syrian girl were also wounded in the attack and hospitalized but there was no danger to their lives. Police in Germany have arrested an Afghan man over a fatal knife attack in a public park in the central city of Aschaffenburg Two others have been hospitalized for injuries from the attack A 28-year-old Afghan migrant was arrested following a knife attack on Wednesday in a park in the German city of Aschaffenburg the attacker deliberately targeted a kindergarten group in the park using a kitchen knife The victims included a 41-year-old German man and a two-year-old boy of Moroccan descent A two-year-old Syrian girl was also injured along with three other individuals: a 61-year-old man who had a history of violent behaviour and was undergoing psychiatric treatment had previously had his asylum process closed He reportedly stated that he would voluntarily leave Germany in December but had not done so The latest horrific terror attack comes just over a month after a Saudi man drove a van into the Magdeburg Christmas fair in December last year This marks the fourth immigration-related attack in Germany within just over six months With just a month remaining until Germany’s early elections on 23 February, tensions are running high. The campaign was, unfortunately, kick-started by the Magdeburg attack. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the right-wing, anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) organized a commemoration event where co-chair Alice Weidel delivered an emotional speech The speech quickly went viral on social media further bolstering the party’s growing popularity in the lead-up to the elections dass sich endlich etwas ändert in unserem Land Dass wir endlich wieder in Sicherheit leben können Dass wir nie wieder mit einer Mutter trauern müssen die auf so eine sinnlose und brutale Weise ihren Sohn verloren hat!” #Magdeburg #AfD #Weihnachten pic.twitter.com/gQX8Ueq985 3 percentage points higher than concerns over the economy AfD co-chair Tino Chrupalla emphasized the importance of deporting dangerous asylum seekers ‘Dangerous parks must be cleared of criminals and made accessible again for children and families,’ he wrote in a post on X Die Messermorde von #Aschaffenburg müssen zur Asylwende führen: Gefährliche Asylzuwanderer sind abzuschieben Wir wollen dazu diplomatische Kontakte nach Afghanistan pflegen Gefährliche Parks sind von Kriminellen zu räumen und wieder Kindern und Familien zugänglich zu machen… The rise in the AfD’s popularity may have been significantly bolstered by Elon Musk American billionaire and co-chair of the recently established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who expressed strong support for the party’s views on X following the Magdeburg attack Musk even invited Alice Weidel for a live conversation on X ‘A strong enough mandate could force a shift in the political landscape’ During the discussion, Musk openly voiced his support for Weidel and AfD stating: ‘People really need to get behind the AfD very much worse in Germany.’ He further added: ‘Alice Weidel is a very reasonable person and hopefully people can tell just from this conversation—nothing outrageous has been proposed Chrupalla even attended Trump’s inauguration on Monday while Scholz and CDU’s Friedrich Merz did not even get an invite Western European leaders, including acting chancellor Olaf Scholz, accused Musk of interfering in the German election by endorsing the AfD Meanwhile, in a blatantly undemocratic move, the German parliament is set to debate a potential ban on AfD next week ‘With its constantly increasing radicalism the AfD is expressing historically revisionist positions with increasing blatancy,’ said Marco Wanderwitz of the CDU Hungarian Conservative is a quarterly magazine on contemporary political philosophical and cultural issues from a conservative perspective were killed and two others were severely injured in a stabbing attack in Bavaria on Wednesday Police said a suspect was detained in the knife attack which occurred in a park in the southern German town of Aschaffenburg Police told The Associated Press they did not immediately know the motive for the attack because the investigation was still at an early stage Train services in the town were temporarily interrupted as the suspect tried to flee along the tracks police wrote on the social media platform X Police asked possible witnesses to come forward They said the second victim who was killed was a 41-year-old man and the suspect was an 28-year-old Afghan citizen They did not know the nationality of the two people who were killed or release any details about those injured They also declined to give details about how the attack took place The governor of Bavaria condemned the attack and called it “a terrible day for all of Bavaria.” “We mourn the victims of a cowardly and despicable act innocent child who was fatally injured,” Markus Söder wrote on X “We mourn the loss of a helper who paid for his civil courage with his own life.” “The circumstances of this inconceivable act must be fully clarified,” he added We pray for the victims and their families We hope that all those injured recover quickly and fully.” Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser expressed her compassion for the families of the victims and vowed that "the investigation will shed light on the background to this terrible act of violence.” “My thoughts and heartfelt sympathy are with the parents of the child who was killed for whom there could be no more terrible news,” she said “My deepest sympathy also goes to the family of the man who lost his life as a result of this brutal act.” either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has intensified its calls for stricter immigration policies following Wednesday's fatal stabbing in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg Newsweek has contacted AfD via email out of office hours for comment The attack occurred just before noon in a park in Aschaffenburg who was part of a group of kindergarten children The suspect was reportedly under German authorities' radar for prior psychiatric issues and violent tendencies. His asylum application was rejected in 2023, yet procedural delays prevented his deportation to Bulgaria, where he first entered the European Union He reportedly informed authorities over a month ago of his intention to leave Germany voluntarily Bavarian officials have blamed federal agencies for the failure to deport him all of Germany's mainstream parties have consistently ruled out forming coalitions with them Scholz said that authorities must clear up why the suspect was still in the country He stated that his administration would "continue the course" of reducing irregular migration while increasing deportations Germany registered 229,751 asylum applications in 2024 a decrease of 30 percent from the previous year Deportations rose to 18,384 in the first 11 months of the year AfD co-leader Alice Weidel wrote on X: "Only the AfD can save Germany." CDU leader Friedrich Merz said that Germany has had "misguided asylum and immigration policy" for a decade––since Angela Merkel a chancellor from his own party and a former Merz rival allowed large numbers of migrants into the country He insisted that "compromises are no longer possible on these issues." SPD Interior Minister Nancy Faeser dismissed Weidel and Merz's rhetoric as opportunism She questioned whether Merz's vow to bar all irregular entry is possible under EU law: "I would say no," she said "One shouldn't use such a serious crime for electioneering [...] What is he promising people Germany's election on February 23 will serve as a litmus test for public sentiment on immigration Merz has pledged to implement stricter border controls within days of taking office in part due to pressure from AfD's rising popularity This article includes reporting from The Associated Press Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all your new go-to podcast to spice up your weekday mornings with relevant news and behind-the-scenes from Brussels and beyond From the economy to the climate and the EU's role in world affairs this talk show sheds light on European affairs and the issues that impact on our daily lives as Europeans Tune in to understand the ins and outs of European politics Dare to imagine the future with business and tech visionaries Deep dive conversations with business leaders Euronews Tech Talks goes beyond discussions to explore the impact of new technologies on our lives the podcast provides valuable insights into the intersection of technology and society Europe's water is under increasing pressure floods are taking their toll on our drinking water Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters and to discover some of the best water solutions an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters We give you the latest climate facts from the world’s leading source analyse the trends and explain how our planet is changing We meet the experts on the front line of climate change who explore new strategies to mitigate and adapt You don't have permission to access the page you requested. What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed. several wounded in suspected terrorist stabbing attackGermany: 2 killed several wounded in suspected terrorist stabbing attackThe police spokesman reported that the victims were a child and three adults and the German Bild reported at least two dead The police spokesman reported that the victims were a child and three adults and the German Bild reported at least two dead the local police have arrested two suspects The police assert that the reason for the attack was unclear Train movement at a train station nearby is currently suspended because a suspect tried to escape via the train please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot Get the most important global markets news at your fingertips with a Bloomberg.com subscription '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/liveblog_entry\/afghan-man-stabs-and-kills-two-in-germany-including-a-child\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=FY8ddgOwMKR_mhRc8VIeVJKwsKDW3D2GmxEY5SQAJ_Q-1746509904-1.0.1.1-ae4iFK82vFpf3Dwl7HaXD4r.YPKAz17qY0XSGvfGJyU" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); Berlin CorrespondentThursday January 23 2025 The TimesAn Afghan asylum seeker arrested on suspicion of stabbing to death a man and a toddler in a Bavarian town was trying to kill a group of nursery children on an outing to their local park which was already dominated by questions of immigration policy and law and order The authorities are under intense pressure to explain why they had failed to deport the 28-year-old suspect even though he had apparently agreed to leave Germany for Bulgaria in December The Afghan citizen is believed to have been having treatment for serious psychiatric problems and Under-16 Women’s Youth National Team Will Face Germany Twice In AschaffenburgHead Coach Patchy Toledo Selects 20 Players Born in 2008 for Training Camp in Germany; Ten Players Return After Winning April’s UEFA Friendship Tournament in TurkeyMay 31 2024{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article","name":"U.S Under-16 Women’s Youth National Team Will Face Germany Twice In Aschaffenburg","datePublished":"2024-05-31T20:19:44.629","image":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/oyf3dba6/production/431af078cdef0e1b38577cd1506fa11caf76eebe-1800x1200.jpg?fit=max&auto=format"}CHICAGO (May 31 Under-16 Women’s Youth National Team head coach Patchy Toledo has selected a 20-player roster for training camp in Aschaffenburg will face Germany on June 8 and 11 at Stadion am Schönbusch Toledo selected all 2008-birth year players All players in the U-16 WYNT pool are age-eligible for this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup set for October/November in the Dominican Republic Last month, the U-16 WYNT won an eight-team UEFA Friendship Tournament in Riva, Turkey with a number of strong performances, topping its group of Turkey, Vietnam and Botswana before defeating Paraguay in penalty kicks in the championship match. Ten players return from that tournament-winning squad. Goalkeepers (2): Hannah Folliard (Galaxy SC; Plainfield, Ill.), Evan O'Steen (Solar SC; Grapevine, Texas) Defenders (7): Pearl Cecil (San Diego Surf SC; Encinitas, Calif.), Izzy Dalke (St. Louis Scott Gallagher; Belleville, Ill.), Ellyse DeBolt (Colorado Rush; Littleton, Colo.), Hailey Fashinpaur (Internationals SC; Richfield, Ohio), Sydney Schmidt (Jacksonville FC; St. Johns, Fla.), Vienna Whipple (Crossfire Premier; Bellevue, Wash.), London Young (Solar SC; Dallas, Texas) Midfielders (6): Scottie Antonucci (Legends FC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Reese Canada (Michigan Hawks; Fenton, Mich.), Anna Neff (Utah Celtic FC; Salt Lake City, Utah), Jaiden Rodriguez (San Diego Surf SC; San Diego, Calif.), Chloe Sadler (La Roca FC; Hyde Park, Utah), Charlee Siria (Ohio Elite SA; Lexington, Ky.) Forwards (5): Addison Feldman (Utah Celtic FC; Salt Lake City, Utah), Kate Kemmerley (Penn Fusion; Berwyn, Pa.), Elayna Kocher (Penn Fusion; Allentown, Pa.), Kyndall Schuler (Virginia Development Academy; Warrenton, VA), Nyanya Touray (Bethesda SC; Silver Spring, Md.) A two-year-old is among the victims of a knife attack in Aschaffenburg News | World A child and adult have been killed during a frenzied knife attack in the Bavarian town of Aschaffenburg in Germany Local reports said that a two-year-old child was among two victims killed after a man launched a knife attack in Schöntal Park on Wednesday around midday German police rushed to the scene and were reportedly later able to detain the attacker after he attempted to flee to a nearby train station believed to be the weapon used in the attack According to local police, two more people are also being treated in hospital after being seriously injured in the knife attack The German news outlet Spiegel have since identified the attacker as a 28-year-old male who had shown psychological issues in the past and had been living in asylum accommodation Although the motives behind the attack are still being investigated local authorities have ruled out any further risk to the public "We can rule out terrorism with almost absolute certainty," a spokesperson told Spiegel Authorities also confirmed that there are no other suspects thought to be involved Police are now calling for witnesses in the surrounding area to come forward with any information to help them move their investigation along A press release by Bayern Police said: “The police were immediately deployed with a large contingent of officers and cordoned off the area The Aschaffenburg criminal investigation department has taken over the investigation and is also asking for information from the public.” Police haven’t released any information about the victims or if they had any ties to the attacker except for their ages The recent double stabbing marks the latest in a number of violent attacks that have rocked Germany recently five people were killed in Magdeburg when a man drove an SUV into crowds of people celebrating the Christmas markets Teenager arrested over boy’s death also being held for assault on woman Nothing to suggest anyone else involved in West Calder deaths Criminal probe into disappearance of Alex Batty discontinued German authorities called for stricter controls on weapons while others demanded social reform after a considerable rise in knife violence Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise 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for the victims of a knife attack Germany is reeling from shock after yet another knife attack by an Afghan migrant The lethal assault—which took place in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg—was made all the more revolting by the fact that the perpetrator attacked a group of preschool children killed a 2-year-old toddler and a 41-year-old man who was trying to shield the children Three other people were taken to hospital for treatment after the attack and the suspect was arrested in the immediate vicinity of the crime scene the alleged perpetrator was someone whose asylum application had been rejected According to German media reports He was supposed to have been deported in December but he offered to leave the country voluntarily Authorities issued a request for him to leave Germany but because he failed to show up at the immigration office He had been receiving treatment for his previous violent behaviour on three separate occasions knifed a Ukrainian woman in a refugee accommodation in Alzenau so I alerted the police,” a fellow Ukrainian resident told German media Investigations are ongoing into the motive behind the attack in Aschaffenburg A search of the man’s accommodation at an asylum centre had not produced “any evidence of a radical Islamist attitude,” and authorities believe the motive is linked “very strongly” to his “obvious mental illness.” Similarly to Enamullah O., the perpetrator of the Solingen terrorist attack, Issa al Hasan not only was not deported, but continued receiving social benefits Germany has been shaken by a series of deadly stabbings in recent months It is no wonder that migration is one of the hottest campaign topics in the run up to the national elections on February 23rd The opposition right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has gained a lot of support due to its tough stance on immigration and is set to finish second with 20-22% of the votes Alice Weidel posted a message on X urging “remigration now!”—using a term to call for the mass deportation of migrants In another post she urged parliament to vote on closing the borders of Germany and the rejection of illegal immigration Der Messer-Terror von #Aschaffenburg muss JETZT Konsequenzen haben. Der Bundestag muss nächste Woche über die Schließung der Grenzen und die Zurückweisung Illegaler abstimmen. CDU & CSU müssen Farbe bekennen! Es darf keine Brandmauertoten mehr geben! pic.twitter.com/M73xiCnQQa Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the “unbelievable act of terror,” and demanded to know why the failed asylum seeker had been able to stay in the country German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Bavarian state officials on Thursday for failing to properly implement immigration regulations following a deadly knife attack in Aschaffenburg that left two people dead carried out by a 28-year-old Afghan national on Wednesday Scholz expressed his shock and anger over the incident “What we heard from Aschaffenburg worried us Authorities have confirmed that the perpetrator had a documented history of violent incidents and mental health issues Though his asylum application was rejected in June poor coordination and communication between state agencies prevented his deportation from being carried out Chancellor Scholz highlighted recent legislative changes aimed at facilitating deportation proceedings for rejected asylum seekers and illegal migrants he pointed to significant implementation gaps “There are obviously enforcement deficits particularly in this case with the Bavarian authorities—that is a major problem; we need to discuss it and ensure that things change,” he said He pledged that his government would continue taking necessary measures to prevent similar incidents adding that the Aschaffenburg attack has affected him personally and will continue to do so for a long time The Social Democratic chancellor's coalition government is under increasing pressure before next month's snap elections to address domestic security concerns and rising irregular migration Right-wing parties have criticized the government for long-standing negligence on these issues with some opposition politicians asserting that its policies have encouraged illegal immigration Federal Chairman of the CDU and leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag speaks at the discussion event “Our agriculture - diverse efficient and sustainable” in Berlin Friday BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s opposition leader said Friday his party will bring motions to toughen migration policy to parliament next week in one of its last sessions before the country’s election a risky move if they go to a vote and pass with the help of a far-right party he said that the Union will bring motions to parliament next week “that correspond solely to our conviction” and added: “We will introduce them independently of who approves them.” Merz said his position toward AfD remains clear and his party won’t approve any AfD motion won’t go into government or work with it and won’t negotiate with it on any motions His bloc insisted that it is looking for votes from other mainstream parties Merz didn’t specify exactly what would be in the proposals Motions can urge the government or parliament to take action It’s also not clear whether any vote will actually happen before the election Motions and bills usually have three readings before lawmakers vote on them a process that typically stretches over weeks and can only be shortened with a vote by a two-thirds majority The general secretary of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left Social Democrats warned of a potential “political dam breach.” Matthias Miersch told German news agency dpa that there had been a consensus among mainstream parties weeks ago that no laws should be agreed with AfD votes but “apparently Friedrich Merz is now terminating this consensus and not only breaking through the firewall but sending a disastrous signal.” Center-left parties that Merz may need to form a coalition government have cast doubt on the feasibility of his migration demands Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times “I have a deep fear in my heart for our clients and what might happen to them,” she said Punitive responses such as these have raised deep concerns among asylum and mental health experts. Jacob Guhl, senior manager for policy and research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue believes German politicians are not analysing the evidence and acknowledging the real factors that contribute to radicalisation “They are conflating anti-migration policies and radicalisation It’s hard to explain to anyone how cutting benefits will help stop terror attacks,” he said Suicide is by far the biggest risk facing people who are denied appropriate mental health care — refugees already have a heightened risk of suicide compared to the general population a psychologist working in state-run refugee accommodation who refers patients to clinics such as Ulrich’s warns that responding to rare acts of violence with cuts to support services is counter-productive: “When people don’t get the help they need occasionally they may experience a breakthrough of trauma only 3.1% of more than 2.5 million refugees in Germany have access to specialist mental health care despite the consensus among experts that many suffer with complex trauma that requires specialist treatment “There are whole generations now who know nothing besides war,” Kiehn said “It’s a really challenging situation and we need specialist solutions for it.” Ulrich agrees that refugees require “trauma-specific language-mediated and culturally sensitive” services that are not currently available in the mainstream healthcare system Germany’s specialist trauma clinics for refugees, including Mosaik, are allocated a baseline annual budget of €7m, which the German parliament votes to top up each year. In 2022, their total allocated budget was €22m, taking into account an influx of refugees from Ukraine This was reduced to €17m in 2023 and €10m in 2024 In 2025 there will be no additional budget giving the 49 clinics just €7m to run on.  Mosaik had one full-time and one part-time psychologist and was forced to turn patients away every day its reduced funding means it can no longer afford a full-time clinician up to 40 fewer people will be able to access long-term therapy sessions Maryam (not her real name) has been visiting Mosaik for three years The 39-year-old’s story is typical of the complex mental health challenges faced by many refugees “I don’t have enough years in my life to express how grateful I am for the support I have received at the clinic,” she said Her parents were among thousands of Syrian Christians who moved to Venezuela in the 1950s when newly discovered oil reserves led to an economic boom. In 2019, when Maryam was pregnant with her first child, the country was in the midst of a profound economic crisis looting and violence and she and her husband fled to Germany The couple settled in Leipzig but rather than making her feel safer Maryam’s experience of the asylum system only compounded the feelings of isolation and rejection she had growing up within Venezuela’s Arab minority.  “My stress and anxiety were so bad that I ended up in hospital because I couldn’t sleep,” she said I couldn’t even walk down the street.” After giving birth she was terrified her baby daughter would be removed from her These somatic symptoms of trauma are common among the refugees Ulrich works with. “When psychological distress goes untreated it will manifest in ways such as a psychotic episode, or physical symptoms such as back pain or being unable to sleep,” she explained, adding that the experience of arriving in Germany as a refugee can worsen existing mental health problems Ulrich added that many refugees end up living in isolated rural areas and have no private space as they are forced to live in overcrowded temporary accommodation with up to 200 other people Maryam got in contact with Mosaik through a friend in early 2022 After completing the 15 sessions with a psychologist offered to all clients she attended a weekly women’s group at the clinic She has been able to reduce the many medications she was taking and feels she is a better mother now her mental health has stabilised “The asylum process is so complicated and burdening,” she said “You feel so precarious the whole time because you do not know what’s going to happen to you I didn’t realise until I came to the clinic the difference it makes to feel you have support.” Mosaik staff are concerned that the increase in anti-immigration rhetoric during the election campaign will exacerbate existing mental health problems among their refugee clients.  Following the AfD’s success regional elections last September Maryam’s psychologist Vania Amigo recalls her patients reporting higher rates of harassment and street-based attacks leading to a spike in stress and anxiety.  being stigmatised and discriminated against and eventually becoming angry and looking for structures that will welcome you,” Ulrich said “There’s a scientifically proven link between experiences of discrimination and poor mental health.” told Hyphen that their data finds no direct correlation between cuts to mental health services and an increased risk of violent incidents but conceded that appropriate mental healthcare “would certainly be positive with regard to risk factors for radicalisation and acts of violence and that failure to provide care could easily lead to a higher risk of people developing a mental state of emergency that might turn violent” With more German far-right voters and mainstream parties adopting harsher anti-immigration policies Ulrich is concerned that the mental health of her patients will spiral just as she is deprived of the resources to assist them Her immediate plan is to apply for philanthropic funding to keep the clinic running but this is awarded only on a project-by-project basis “We really need long-term sustainable funding “although our ideal world would be one where no specialist clinics are needed because the mainstream healthcare structures are open Hyphen is the leading media platform on Muslim life in the UK and Europe Sign up to our newsletter to receive our top stories straight to your inbox every week This form may not be visible due to adblockers © 2025 Hyphen® / Link Media Corporation Ltd Ian Payne is Leading Britain's Conversation A two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man were killed in a knife attack in a park in Germany on Wednesday morning A 28-year-old Afghan national was arrested after the attack a town of about 73,000 people in the southern state of Bavaria Another person who witnessed the attack is also being held for questioning two other people were seriously injured and were rushed to hospital for emergency treatment The suspect is said to have followed a daycare group of five small children before the attack He tried to run away from police down the railway tracks but was caught quickly The escape attempt disrupted train services temporarily Officers said they did not immediately know the motive for the attack but that there was no immediate further danger Germany has recently undergone a series of terror attacks including a car ramming incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg on December 20 Six people were injured in that attack and 200 injured A doctor of Saudi origin was arrested in connection with the Magdeburg attack See more More Latest News See more Latest News See more The News Explained See more Royals See more Highlights & Opinion See more More Topics Following the knife attack in Aschaffenburg that left two people dead an investigating judge at the local court has ordered the suspect to be temporarily detained in a psychiatric hospital The police and public prosecutor's office announced in a joint press release that the man is now being held there The placement order was reportedly issued at the request of the public prosecutor's office and after hearing a psychiatric expert The newspaper "Bild" had previously reported on this A detention order is usually issued if there are indications that a suspect was mentally incompetent at the time of the crime due to a mental illness The man is accused of two counts of murder two counts of attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm According to the police and public prosecutor's office he did not initially comment on the charges The Afghan is said to have killed a two-year-old boy of Moroccan origin and a German (41) in a park in the town on the state border with Hesse on Wednesday afternoon - completely suddenly and deliberately according to Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Hermann (CSU) a two-year-old girl from Syria was injured three times in the neck area with the kitchen knife a 72-year-old man suffered multiple injuries to his chest A 59-year-old kindergarten teacher broke her arm in the commotion The three seriously injured people are still in hospital "But they are all out of danger," said a police spokesman Police officers arrested him shortly after the crime he had announced in writing to the authorities that he wanted to leave the country - but obviously did not do so the man was "obviously also undergoing psychiatric treatment" The investigation will have to show whether his culpability may have been diminished at the time of the crime or whether he was actually inculpable the police are trying to clarify whether the Afghan deliberately attacked children from a daycare center group The man was known to the police and judiciary because of several investigations against him - including for violent offenses the Schweinfurt district court issued a penalty order with a fine against the man for intentional bodily harm in March 2023 following an assault in an Anker-Zentrum He had received a further penalty order from the Aschaffenburg district court for fraud because he had been caught with a false ticket Proceedings are also pending at the court in Schweinfurt for damage to property at an Anker center in January 2024 two investigations are reportedly still ongoing for resisting law enforcement officers and insulting others According to the Aschaffenburg public prosecutor's office the man had come to the federal police station in Aschaffenburg in May 2024 and initially asked for help he then "hit a female officer with the flat of his hand" When several other officers then brought him to the ground he is said to have released the safety catch of a weapon holster on one of the police officers before he was handcuffed and handcuffed The man is said to have been under the influence of cannabis at the time of the crime This investigation has not yet been concluded because the authorities have commissioned a psychiatric expert opinion this order was initially suspended because the Central Immigration Office had informed the public prosecutor's office that the accused wanted to leave the country voluntarily the man allegedly undressed completely in front of two police officers on a platform at Aschaffenburg main station and damaged a grit bin he allegedly went on the rampage in Alzenau and damaged a car he is said to have repeatedly banged his head against the ground he is said to have kicked paramedics and police officers According to the public prosecutor's office the requirements for an arrest warrant were not met in any of the proceedings - not even for temporary criminal detention in a psychiatric hospital A further case is being conducted by the public prosecutor's office in Frankfurt the public prosecutor's office in Aschaffenburg announced the Aschaffenburg authorities are now investigating the statements of a witness according to which the man allegedly injured a resident of a refugee shelter in Alzenau with a knife Alleged perpetrator under supervision since December 2024 As the spokeswoman for the Aschaffenburg district court went on to say the suspect had been under guardianship since December 9 "as the person concerned was not in a position to manage his own affairs legally due to a mental illness" He had not appeared at an agreed appointment with his guardian The police reportedly placed him in a psychiatric ward twice - in January and May 2024 two people have been killed in an attack in a park in Aschaffenburg One suspect has been provisionally arrested A second person who was initially arrested was not suspected of any wrongdoing According to the information available so far The scene of the crime and the park were cordoned off after the incident at midday The background to the attack was initially unclear Rail traffic in Aschaffenburg was suspended because a suspect allegedly tried to flee across the railroad tracks Trains to and from Aschaffenburg are currently being held back The extent of the impact on regional and long-distance services was not initially foreseeable Aschaffenburg is located in the Bavarian administrative district of Lower Franconia The park called Schöntal is located in the city center The police are always on the move there with foot patrols This may be one of the reasons why the suspect could have been caught quickly Whether witnesses to the crime helped is currently being clarified the historic park in the English garden style is just over nine hectares in size.