Suspect on the run after 5 Injured in Knife attack in Bielefeld

After a knife attack outside a bar in Bielefeld that left several people injured, the suspect is still on the run. The manhunt for the 35-year-old is ongoing, a police spokeswoman in the North Rhine-Westphalian city said on Monday. There are currently no new findings. According to her, none of the four seriously injured people are now in critical condition.

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According to investigators, the 35-year-old is said to have randomly attacked revelers with stabbing weapons in front of a bar in Bielefeld city centre early on Sunday morning and injured at least five people. He then managed to escape. The suspect, who comes from Syria, left a bag at the scene containing identity documents and a bottle of petrol-smelling liquid.

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The police and public prosecutor's office said they were investigating “in all directions”. A homicide squad has been set up. According to a report in the “Bild” newspaper, the investigators considered it likely that the suspect had not acted spontaneously, but had planned an attack. However, this has not been officially confirmed by the authorities.

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According to investigators, the 35-year-old Syrian man lived in Harsewinkel and a large-scaleman hunt was launched. The authorities also distributed a picture of the wanted man, Mahmoud Mhemed who is described by police as being between 1.60 and 1.70 meters tall, with a stocky build, black hair, and brown eyes. At the time, he was wearing a black hoodie, white T-shirt, black pants, and a black baseball cap. The police called on people not to approach the wanted man if they came into contact with him and to call the police instead. The man may still be armed. "Keep your distance," the officers warned.

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Five people between the ages of 22 and 27 were injured in the attack. Four of those attacked were considered seriously injured, and one of them was in critical condition at one point. However, according to a Bielefeld police spokeswoman, his condition had stabilized by Monday.