A two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man have been fatally stabbed in a brutal attack in Germany, allegedly carried out by a 28-year-old Afghan asylum seeker. The attack occurred in Schöntal Park in Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, around 11:45 AM, when the suspect ambushed a group of children from a local nursery.
The suspect, identified as Enamullah O., was arrested near the crime scene shortly after the attack. He is reported to have had a history of mental health issues and had been living in asylum accommodation in the region.
German authorities confirmed that the suspect had been ordered to leave the country following the rejection of his asylum application, but he had not yet departed.
Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann revealed that the suspect had voluntarily announced his intention to leave in December, but his asylum procedure was only closed in mid-December, with authorities requesting his departure.
The attack targeted a group of five young children, and according to witnesses, the attacker followed them before launching the assault. One teacher was injured and hospitalized, while another received psychological support. A child was also reported to be seriously injured.
Local police quickly launched a search, and the suspect was detained near the scene. The knife used in the attack was confiscated. Two other individuals were injured in the attack and are receiving medical treatment.
Bavarian officials, including Governor Markus Söder and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, condemned the violence, calling it a tragic and senseless act. Chancellor Olaf Scholz demanded an explanation as to why the suspect had remained in Germany despite being required to leave.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, and police have urged the public to refrain from speculation as investigations continue. The area surrounding Schöntal Park was cordoned off, and train services in the vicinity were temporarily halted as the suspect attempted to flee along the tracks.
