A 28-year-old Afghan man has been arrested following a knife attack in Schoental Park, Aschaffenburg, Germany, that left two people dead, including a toddler, police reported.
The attack took place at around 10:45 GMT on Wednesday in the picturesque Bavarian garden. A 41-year-old man and a two-year-old boy were fatally injured, while two others remain hospitalized with serious injuries. The suspect, a former asylum-seeker who was slated to leave Germany, was apprehended.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack as an “act of terror” and demanded urgent explanations as to why the attacker was still in the country.
“I am tired of such acts of violence happening here every few weeks — by perpetrators who came to us to find protection here,” Scholz said. “Mistaken tolerance is inappropriate here. Authorities must clear up at high pressure why the attacker was still in Germany at all.” He further insisted this must lead to “immediate consequences — it is not enough to talk.”
The incident has reignited debates over immigration and asylum policies, just weeks before Germany’s 23 February parliamentary elections. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), expressed his shock, saying, “This can’t go on. We must and we will re-establish law and order.” Alice Weidel, co-leader of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), called for “Remigration now!”
Local reports suggest the suspect targeted a group of children from a daycare centre in the park and had been residing in a nearby asylum centre. Some outlets noted that the man had received treatment for psychological issues. Authorities confirmed that there is no evidence of additional suspects and assured the public is not at risk.
This attack adds to a series of violent incidents in Germany, including last month’s car-ramming at a Magdeburg Christmas market that killed six people and injured around 200. In response to such events, Scholz’s government has tightened restrictions on carrying knives in public, reduced benefits for asylum seekers, and accelerated deportation procedures for those with rejected asylum claims.
