Knife rampage on German train leaves two dead and several others injured; perpetrator a stateless Palestinian

At least two people have been killed and five more injured in a stabbing rampage on a regional train in Germany today.

A man, who is said to be Syrian, attacked the passengers with a knife shortly before the regional train travelling from Kiel to Hamburg arrived at Brokstedt station at around 3pm today before he was arrested.

Update, the German newspaper Bild says that their latest information is that the man arrested is a Palestinian from Gaza. According to a spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior, he is between 25 and 40 years old but the police say he is between 20 and 30 years old. He had a temporary residency permit with him which may have been a forgery. The age could not be read because of the bloodstains.  He had been in custody 6 days previously and has a history of violent and sexual offences. 

Confirmed by the Itzehoe Police Department as a ‘stateless Palestinian aged 33. 

The suspect, who has not been named by police, launched the knife rampage just before the train arrived at Brokstedt station near Neumunster, a town in northern Germany.  Two people were killed and five were wounded in the attack, including one person who is in critical condition and fighting for their life…

The attacker was tackled by police officers at the train station and arrested, reports Spiegel. The suspect had reportedly stabbed himself after attacking the other passengers and was found to have injuries to his hands when he was detained, reports Bild.

Police did not give out any information on the suspect’s identity and said his possible motives were under investigation.