A knife attack on a public bus in the western German town of Siegen left six people injured on Friday evening, local police reported. The incident has heightened concerns about the increase in violent crimes across the country.
According to authorities, a 32-year-old German woman allegedly stabbed passengers on a bus traveling to a city festival. Initially, police reported five injuries but later revised the number to six. Three of the victims are in life-threatening condition, officials said.
The attack occurred while approximately 40 people were aboard the bus. Police quickly apprehended the suspect at the scene. Investigators are probing the motive behind the attack but have stated there are no indications of terrorism.
In response to the incident, law enforcement has urged citizens to refrain from spreading unverified information on social media platforms. Germany’s Bild tabloid reported that the attacker may have been suffering from mental health issues, though this has not been officially confirmed.
This latest incident follows a deadly knife attack in Solingen last week that left three people dead and eight wounded. The suspected perpetrator in that case was a 26-year-old Syrian man who had previously been slated for deportation to Bulgaria.
In the wake of the Solingen attack, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government announced new security measures, including restrictions on carrying knives in public places and plans to curb benefits for some illegal migrants.
The string of violent incidents has put pressure on German authorities to address public safety concerns. On Tuesday, police in the western town of Moers, near Solingen, fatally shot a man suspected of attacking passersby with knives.
