Afghan man stabs and kills two in Germany, including a toddler others injured

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A devastating knife attack in Bavaria has left two people dead, including a two-year-old boy, and three others injured. The tragic incident unfolded in Aschaffenburg, a city of 72,000, just before noon on Wednesday. The suspect, identified as a 28-year-old Afghan national, has been apprehended.  

 

Authorities revealed that the suspect, a former asylum-seeker ordered to leave Germany, launched the attack in a park. Among his victims was a two-year-old Moroccan boy, who was part of a group of kindergarten children. Bavaria's top security official, Joachim Herrmann, disclosed that the boy was fatally stabbed with a kitchen knife. A 41-year-old German man, who appeared to intervene in an effort to protect the children, also lost his life.

 

In addition to the fatalities, two adults and a two-year-old Syrian girl sustained injuries but are not in critical condition. Passersby acted swiftly, pursuing the attacker and aiding police in his arrest just 12 minutes after the assault.  

 

Joachim Herrmann detailed the suspect’s background, noting his prior involvement in violent incidents. "This individual had come to authorities' attention at least three times because of acts of violence," Herrmann said. Each time, the suspect underwent psychiatric treatment before being released.  

 

The suspect reportedly arrived in Germany in November 2022 and applied for asylum in early 2023. By December 4, he informed authorities of his intention to voluntarily leave the country and seek documentation from the Afghan consulate. However, his asylum application was formally denied, and he was instructed to leave Germany shortly thereafter.  

 

Investigators are now working to uncover the motive behind the attack, with early findings pointing to the suspect’s psychiatric condition. Herrmann stated, "A search of his room at a refugee home revealed no evidence of radical Islamic views, but it did turn up medication consistent with psychiatric treatment."  

 

Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to the tragedy with a strongly worded condemnation. “This is an incomprehensible act of terror,” Scholz declared. He expressed frustration over repeated violent incidents involving individuals seeking asylum in Germany. “I am tired of such acts of violence happening here every few weeks — by perpetrators who came to us to find protection here. Mistaken tolerance is inappropriate here. Authorities must clear up at high pressure why the attacker was still in Germany at all.”  

 

Scholz stressed that the attack must lead to immediate action, stating, “It is not enough to talk.” His comments come amid heightened political sensitivity, as Germany approaches a national election in which irregular migration and asylum policies are major issues.  

 

The incident also recalls previous attacks that spurred debates on Germany’s deportation policies. Earlier this year, an Afghan immigrant killed a police officer in Mannheim, while a suspected Islamic extremist from Syria was accused of killing three people in Solingen. These events have led to renewed vows by Scholz to ramp up deportations of rejected asylum-seekers, particularly those involved in criminal activity.  

 

Germany recently resumed deporting Afghan nationals to their homeland, the first such action since the Taliban regained power in 2021. This latest tragedy further amplifies calls for stricter measures to address asylum policies and ensure public safety.  

 

The Bavarian community remains in mourning as authorities work to understand how such a horrifying act could occur and take steps to prevent future tragedies.

 

Based on a report by ABC News 2025-01-23