Bavaria Knife attack in Aschaffenburg: suspect in psychiatric ward
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.
23.01.2025, 19:30
23.01.2025, 19:31
SDA
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).
In addition, a two-year-old girl from Syria was injured three times in the neck area with the kitchen knife, according to previous findings. According to the authorities, 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.
The suspect is 28 years old. Police officers arrested him shortly after the crime. According to Herrmann, the man was required to leave the country. At the beginning of December 2024, he had announced in writing to the authorities that he wanted to leave the country - but obviously did not do so. According to Herrmann, 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. Among other things, the police are trying to clarify whether the Afghan deliberately attacked children from a daycare center group.
Several proceedings - also for violence
The man was known to the police and judiciary because of several investigations against him - including for violent offenses. According to a court spokeswoman, 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, a reception center for asylum seekers. 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. In addition, two investigations are reportedly still ongoing for resisting law enforcement officers and insulting others.
Rioting at the police station
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. However, 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. Three police officers were injured. 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. However, 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.
Incident at the main train station
In June 2024, the man allegedly undressed completely in front of two police officers on a platform at Aschaffenburg main station and damaged a grit bin. In August, he allegedly went on the rampage in Alzenau and damaged a car. After the police arrived, he is said to have repeatedly banged his head against the ground. When he was then taken to hospital, 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. In addition, 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, 2024, "as the person concerned was not in a position to manage his own affairs legally due to a mental illness". The order was to apply for three years. 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.
