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Germany: Knife attack in refugee accommodation in Greven, 35-year old dies

Germany: A fatal knife attack took place in a refugee and homeless shelter in Greven Münsterland, North Rhine-Westphalia where one person was killed and another injured.

The state prosecutor said that a suspect was arrested in the area and according to police he’s a 25-year old Afghan who lives in the accommodation. He was arrested without resistance and a helicopter used to search for him.

According to statements by witnesses, the young man allegedly attacked a 35-year old from Azerbaijan who was a resident at the hostel and a 43-year old German, with a knife and then fled the scene.

Police affirmed that the 35-year old died on site, the 43-year-old was seriously injured and taken to a hospital. He was also a resident of the facility for asylum seekers and homeless people.

Investigators in the night in search of the killer.  He was hiding in a field
Investigators in the night in search of the killer. 
He was hiding in a field
. Courtesy of Bild.

A homicide squad has been set up, and the investigation into the suspect’s motive is still ongoing. Witnesses said the 25-year-old shouted “Allahu akbar” shortly before the attack.

The background and the motive for the crime have not yet been clarified.

Police officers investigating the murder in Greven
Police officers investigating the murder in Greven. Courtesy of BILD.

The knife attacker entered Germany in 2015 and has been living in the facility in Greven since January 2018, the public prosecutor said. It is said the man was ‘under the influence of alcohol an drugs’ at the time of the crime.

This comes just after at least three people were killed and six others injured in a knife attack in downtown Würzburg and according to Bild journalists, at least three people were killed and six others injured, some seriously. The perpetrator was arrested with a shot to the leg.

There was also another attack in Erfut a man is said to have attacked and injured two people presumably with a knife in an attack on Monday the 28th of June 2021. The perpetrator is on the run right now and is being searched for by Helicopter.

Source: Bild, afp, Spiegel