Afghan arrested Man attacks kindergarten group with a knife - 2 dead

Out of nowhere, a man is said to have attacked unsuspecting people in Aschaffenburg. Help came too late for a boy and a man. Now the police are looking for answers.

This article was last comprehensively updated at 18:27.

It's a frosty Wednesday, the sun is shining. But at lunchtime, the Franconian town of Aschaffenburg is abruptly torn from its daily routine. In the middle of a popular city center park, a 28-year-old man allegedly attacks several people with a knife, according to initial police reports. A two-year-old boy dies and the emergency services are also unable to help a 41-year-old man. Two other people are seriously injured and taken to hospital.

Was it an act of terrorism, the act of a mentally ill person or was it something personal? "Investigations into the motive are underway," says a police spokesperson, asking people to refrain from speculation. Even hours after the knife attack, the sequence of events has not been established. It remains uncertain whether the man arrested has already spoken out about the crime.

Footpaths often in the park

The police are quickly on the scene after the attack, possibly also because foot patrols are regularly on the move in the park. Police officers arrest the 28-year-old with Afghan citizenship. According to dpa information, he was living in asylum accommodation in the area and had a history of psychological problems. It is not yet publicly known whether he resisted arrest. There is also initially no reliable information about his background, for example whether he is known to the police and when he came to Germany.

Not an hour passes on this Wednesday before the public is informed about the attack. Police cordon off the park and a helicopter is deployed. Onlookers are largely denied a view of the crime scene, which is swarming with police officers. Barrier tape is stretched here and there.

The officers repeatedly emphasize that there is no danger to the public. The only suspect has been arrested and the alleged murder weapon seized.

Initial report of two suspects

Shortly after the attack, the police assumed that there were two suspects. However, this was later not confirmed. "The second person arrested was a witness. He is currently being questioned", the officers write on X.

It is initially unclear who the victims are and how they are related to each other. There is also no confirmed information about the course of the crime. A group of children and educators could be involved in the crime - how exactly remains unclear for the time being.

Rail traffic disrupted

Because the suspect is said to have tried to flee across the railroad tracks, rail traffic in Aschaffenburg is suspended. The large-scale operation leads to train cancellations and delays on the railroad line between Würzburg and Frankfurt. The main station in Aschaffenburg is closed for the time being due to the operation, says a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn. Duration unclear.

ICE trains between Frankfurt and Würzburg are therefore being rerouted, which according to Deutsche Bahn will lead to delays of around half an hour. Regional trains will be held back for the time being. The railroad warns that short-term cancellations and delays are possible.

Increased crime in the park

Aschaffenburg has around 70,000 inhabitants and is located in the Bavarian administrative district of Lower Franconia, close to the state border with Hesse. The park called Schöntal is located in the city center.

According to the city, the historic park in English garden style is just over nine hectares in size. In the recent past, there has been an increase in crimes in the area, as the Aschaffenburg police told the "Main-Echo" at the end of 2024. Mayor Jürgen Herzing emphasized at the time: "The complaints that people no longer feel safe in Schöntal are increasing." After the act of violence on Wednesday, the mayor breaks off his vacation and hurries back to the Untermain.

Police are looking for witnesses

The police are asking for help from possible witnesses during the course of the day. "We are currently preparing a portal where you can send us your relevant pictures and videos," the Lower Franconia Police Headquarters announced on X. Eyewitnesses to the incident should also contact the police emergency number 110 or a police station.