Knife attack in Bielefeld: Syrian arrested - motif unclear!

Knife attack in Bielefeld: Syrian arrested - motif unclear!

In the night of Sunday there was a violent incident in Bielefeld, Germany, in which at least five people were injured. A 35-year-old Syrian, who is considered the main suspect, was arrested in Heiligenhaus near Düsseldorf. The man who traveled to Europe via Turkey received a temporary protection status after an asylum application in Germany in December 2023. The suspect was arrested by a special operational command (SEK) in the context of coordinated measures, which also took place in the neighboring Velbert. This reports Oe24 .

The injured young men between the ages of 22 and 27, come from the local football scene. According to the reports, they were attacked in front of a bar in the city center, with four of them suffering serious injuries. Initially, two of the victims even hovered in mortal danger, but their condition later stabilized. The victims defended themselves to flee during the attack, which apparently made it difficult for the attacker. After the incident, police officers were able to ensure several knives at the scene, but the exact crime tool remained unclear. In particular, the Bielefeld public prosecutor's office has started the investigation in all directions in order to clarify the motive of the attack, which is previously unknown. This reports Tagesspiegel .

crime scene and search for traces

The attack occurred below a high road near the Bielefeld main station and was limited by the violent reactions of the victims and the quick intervention by the police. The circumstances at the crime scene are worrying, where civil servants found a bag with personnel documents left behind by the perpetrator and a bottle with a liquid smelling of petrol. Such finds arouse speculations about the attacker's background and intentions, even if the investigation is still in an early phase.

With a view to the general security situation in Germany, it should be noted that violent crime has risen again in 2024. According to the Federal Criminal Police 1.5 % to 217,277 cases, which has reached the highest level since 2007. Among other things, there are increasing figures for non -German suspects who are often discussed in the public debate.

The incident in Bielefeld stimulates thinking because it fits in the context of a worrying trend within the crime statistics. While the overall crime has dropped, violent crime remains a central topic in the security discussion. The detail of the suspects according to nationality shows a clear gap and challenges society and politics to find adequate solutions to prevent such incidents in the future.