Federal Prosecutor's Office takes over Bielefeld Knife attack case

Following the knife attack in Bielefeld that left several people injured, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office has taken over the investigation. It is suspected “that the act was religiously motivated and is to be understood as an attack on the free democratic basic order”, explained the Karlsruhe authority on Tuesday evening.

‍

The attack was therefore likely to “impair the internal security of the Federal Republic of Germany”. The alleged perpetrator, 35-year-old Syrian Mahmoud M., is suspected of attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm, the federal prosecutor's office added. It called the crime a “suspected attack” and took over the investigation due to the special significance of the case.

‍

The criminal investigation is being continued by the police in Bielefeld. According to the statement, the 35-year-old stabbed guests with knives in front of a bar in Bielefeld's city center early Sunday morning. Four people were critically injured. According to earlier information from the Bielefeld police, none of those attacked are now in mortal danger.

‍

The 35-year-old is said to have left behind a bag containing identity documents and a bottle of petrol-scented liquid. Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) explained that "there are now increasing indications that the perpetrator was motivated by Islamism". The attack was "of shocking brutality". Islamist terrorism is "one of the greatest threats to internal security in our country".

‍

The suspect fled after the attack. A public manhunt was launched for him and witnesses finally put the police on his trail. He was arrested in Heiligenhaus near Düsseldorf late on Monday evening. He resisted arrest and was slightly injured. He is now in custody. Before the knife attack, the man lived in Harsewinkel, about 30 kilometers from Bielefeld-