Today, two schoolgirls, ages 7 and 8, were victims of a knife attack at the Evangelical School in the Neukoelln district of Berlin. Both are hospitalized with one in life-threatening condition. The attacker, an adult male not further described, awaited the arrival of police and surrendered without resistance. No motive has been given by police or local officials, but it appears they are ruling out any religious or political motive since the attacker is being described as "mentally ill" and has no connection to the victims. In most European countries, these kinds of attackers are very quickly dismissed as being "mentally ill." We await further developments.
The below article from today's Berlin Morgenpost is translated by Fousesquawk. Please note that this article has been updated today and likely will again over the next few hours. Thus, there may be some discrepancies as to new paragraphs being added, etc.
Motive unclear
Attack in Neukoelln school: Man injures (female) students
Posted
Caption: The attack on two girls triggered a massive police operation in a Neukoelln school.Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
In a Berlin school, a man attacked two schoolchildren. Both were taken injured to the hospital. What is known.
Berlin. In a school in Berlin-Neukoelln, two schoolgirls were seriously injured in a physical attack. The girls, ages 7 and 8 years, were apparently attacked by a man, one of the girls is in a life-threatening condition. The Berlin police were able to announce the arrest of the presumed perpetrator. Who and for what reason he attacked the two children is as yet not clear.
Caption:
This is where the school is located in which two schoolgirls were victims of a knife attack on Wednesday afternoon.
Police arrest presumed perpetrator: Schoolgirl in life-threatening condition
The "BZ" (Berliner Zeitung) first reported the attack on the school on Mainzerstrasse (street). Accordingly, several children were witnesses to the traumatic attacks. According to initial information, the weapon is reportedly a knife. Both victims of the attack were taken in a helicopter for treatment. As for the provisionally-arrested person, a Berlin police spokeswoman gave no information. "We are investigating all angles," says the police press office.
According to "BZ" information, the perpetrator awaited the police after the attack and submitted to arrest without resistance. The rear door of the school was closed off by police at 3 pm, two hours after the attack. Parents stood before the main entrance and waited for their children. They (children) were allowed to leave the building after a few minutes and were turned over to their parents.
Tweet above video:
Berlin education senator, Katherina Guenther-Wuensch, on the knife attack at the Evangelical School in Neukoelln: "Religious or political motive on the part of the perpetrator can probably be ruled out. No regular operation in the next two days."
Caption: Scene of horrific act was the Evangelical School on Mainzerstrasse in Neukoelln. Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa
Caption: Large number of Berlin police deployed to Evangelical School. According to initial information, the presumed perpetrator submitted to arrest without resistance. Photo: Michael Kappeler
What motivated the perpetrator to injure the two girls in a serious, life-threatening manner is yet completely unclear. Neither political or religious motives are believed to have led to the blood act. As the Berliner Zeitung writes, the perpetrator is reportedly psychologically sick and knew neither of the children.
Tweet: Kai Wegner (Berlin mayor)
I am shocked at this unthinkable act. My thoughts in these difficult hours are with both the injured girls, whom I wish a speedy recovery. My sincere condolences to the parents, teachers, schoolmates, as well as friends.
For the next two days, school administrators have suspended classes. The children, who were witnesses to the act were provided with spiritual counseling, as were the rescue personnel who first showed up to the crime scene. Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner (Christian Democrat party) expressed his horror on Twitter and expressed his sympathy to the relatives of the victims.
Caption: Instead of children playing, emergency vehicles are at the playground of the Neukoelln school after the knife attack. Photo: Alexander Rothe.
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*Update (May 4, 2023): Per today's Tagespiegel, the attacker is (partially) identified as Berhan S., 38 years old age, reportedly born in Berlin. This subject reportedly has a history of arrests and psychiatric evaluations. The below link (translation pending) has a photo of Berhan S.
2 comments:
In most European countries, these kinds of attackers are very quickly dismissed as being "mentally ill."
How is that different FROM what is said about the mass shooters in the USA?
Mass murderers in the USA are generally not motivated by religion. In addition, not guilty by reason of insanity is a very difficult legal defense in the US.
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