Police said the attack at the grocery store appeared to be random and that the suspect and the “severely injured” child victim appeared to be unrelated.
German police arrested a 34-year-old Syrian immigrant with a Dutch passport on Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of stabbing a passerby at a discount supermarket in the town of Wangen, Baden-Württemberg. The victim was reportedly a 4-year-old girl who was out while his mother was grocery shopping. The “severely injured” child was taken to hospital for surgery and is said to be in stable condition.
The situation could have been even worse if bystanders had not quickly disarmed the knifeman and chased him away. A member of the public who was chasing the man called police and led officers to the suspect. The Syrian was apparently arrested without any resistance, but has not spoken to police about the attack.
Police have not yet determined a motive and say there is no connection between the suspect and the injured child.
Ravensburg police said: around Tageschau: “A man suddenly approached a 4-year-old girl and injured her with a knife.” They continued, “The two did not know each other before and probably had no previous relationship.” …This type of crime is extremely rare.”
Broadcast station RTL relayed the statement Wanger Mayor Michael Lang said: “We are deeply affected…The fact that a child could suddenly be attacked is shocking and incredibly shocking and disheartening to all of us. ”. The mayor also praised the public for disarming the attacker and perhaps preventing a worse tragedy.
