Four people were slightly injured in a hammer attack on a long-distance train in southern Germany on Thursday. A 20-year-old Syrian national was detained after being overpowered by fellow passengers. The incident prompted a large emergency response and disrupted rail services in the region.
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Details of the Attack
The attack occurred on an ICE express train traveling from Hamburg in northern Germany towards Vienna, Austria. The incident took place while the train was between the towns of Straubing and Plattling in the state of Bavaria.
Authorities reported that about 500 people were on board the train at the time of the attack.
Police initially stated the attacker used an axe but later clarified the weapon was allegedly a hammer, possibly along with other items. The motive for the attack has not been disclosed by authorities.
Police and Emergency Response
Following the attack, emergency services were alerted around 2 pm after passengers reportedly pulled the emergency brakes. The train came to a halt near the village of Straßkirchen.
Approximately 150 police officers, firefighters, and emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene. The railway line was closed temporarily as a result of the incident.
The Bavarian Red Cross established a special care center nearby to assist passengers who were not injured but may have experienced trauma. Psychological caregivers were also deployed to provide support.
German high-speed ICE train similar to the one involved in the hammer attack near Straubing
Attacker and Victims
Police identified the detained individual as a 20-year-old Syrian national. He was reportedly overpowered by other passengers before police arrived.
The attacker sustained injuries and was taken into police custody, where he also received medical treatment.
The four injured passengers, whose identities were not released, were transported to nearby hospitals for care. Their injuries were described as slight.
Context of Recent Incidents
This incident follows several other violent attacks that have occurred in public spaces across Germany in recent months.
In May, a woman was arrested after stabbing and injuring more than a dozen people at Hamburg’s central railway station. Earlier in February, two people were killed and over 20 injured when a driver drove into a demonstration in Munich. In December, a similar incident occurred in Magdeburg when a car drove through a Christmas market, resulting in six deaths and more than 200 injuries.
The German rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, expressed sympathy for the injured and others affected by the train attack, thanking emergency services for their swift response and apprehension of the suspect.
Conclusion
A hammer attack on a train in southern Germany resulted in four minor injuries and the detention of a 20-year-old suspect. Passengers played a role in subduing the attacker before authorities arrived. The incident led to significant emergency deployment and temporary disruption of rail services. The investigation into the motive for the attack is ongoing.
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