A teenager reportedly shouting “Allahu Akbar” has been shot dead by police in Germany after attacking people inside a passenger train near the city of Würzburg in the state of Bavaria. Five people were injured – some critically – while others are in shock.
The incident began just before 9:15 p.m. local time on Monday when the man – identified as a 17-year-old Afghan refugee – began attacking people with an axe and a knife on a regional passenger train that was traveling from Treuchtlingen to Würzburg.
After the train stopped at a nearby train station, the teenager initially fled the scene on foot but was quickly located by responding officers. He was shot and killed when he attempted to attack the officers, who fired multiple shots, according to police.
Local radio initially reported that as many as 21 people had been injured, but a police statement later confirmed that a total of five people had been physically hurt, including four who suffered serious injuries. About fourteen others were said to be suffering from shock.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the boy, whose name was not immediately released, had come to Germany as an unaccompanied refugee and was living with a host family. A witnesses said the boy had shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack, though investigators are still working to corroborate that.
The motive for the attack is still under investigation, police said.
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