A young man threw a paintball grenade into the aisle of a train traveling from Aachen to Frankfurt am Main and threatened passengers with knives. The police arrested him in Siegburg near Bonn.
In western Germany, a 20-year-old man injured several passengers of the high-speed ICE train traveling from Aachen to Frankfurt am Main by throwing a paintball grenade into the aisle of the carriage on the evening of April 2, reports the tabloid Bild on the morning of April 3, as noted by DW.
It is reported that the attacker was armed with two knives and was wearing a mask. According to Bild, he threatened to commit a terrorist act and murder.
One passenger managed to lock the attacker in the restroom. The police arrested the offender at Bonn/Siegburg station. About 180 passengers were evacuated, and access to the station was temporarily closed. Federal police officers, including dog handlers, searched the train but found no dangerous items, reports the AFP agency.
Victims of the train attack
According to the police press service, at least 12 people were injured as a result of the attack. They sustained superficial skin injuries. One passenger reportedly also suffered an acoustic injury and was taken to the hospital, but was able to leave after receiving assistance.
Evacuated passengers were provided with psychological support. The Deutsche Bahn company launched additional trains to help them complete their journey.
What is known about the attacker
As Bild reports, citing the police press service, the attacker is a resident of Aachen and holds German citizenship. At the time of publication, the motives of the alleged criminal were unclear. It is noted that the pyrotechnics he used for the attack are available for sale. The police have opened a case against the man under articles for causing bodily harm and for violating weapon possession regulations.
