Attack in ICE: Drug-Induced Psychosis Possible
It cannot be ruled out that the attack was triggered by a drug-induced psychosis.
The motive is currently still unclear. According to Rauscher, investigators are also in contact with the Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism of the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office. According to a witness statement, the man is said to have prayed with a carpenter's hammer and spoken the words "Allahu Akbar" before the attack.
So far, investigators assume that the man acted alone. There is also no explicit suspicion of extremism yet, as the man was not previously known for incidents relevant to state security. The 20-year-old Syrian attacked three compatriots on Thursday in the ICE from Hamburg to Vienna. Five people were injured, including the attacker himself, who was the most seriously injured. In Austria, the suspect is known to the authorities.
20-Year-Old Was Not an Unknown in Austria
The 20-year-old was not an unknown in this country, according to the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA): In a statement available to the APA on Friday, it was stated that the Syrian citizen applied for asylum in 2021 - as a minor. The BFA conducted an age assessment during the process and granted him protection status in 2022 after confirming his minority. He had a residence in Austria, making him formally reachable by the authorities. The BFA did not provide further details - presumably for data protection reasons. Herrmann had spoken in the evening about the Vienna region, where the young man was registered.
"After two final convictions for serious bodily harm and attempted resistance to state authority in February and late April 2025, an asylum revocation procedure was initiated by the BFA in May 2025," the statement continued, also referring to the deportation of a Syrian criminal with links to the terrorist militia "Islamic State" (IS) that took place on Thursday.
There were no indications of terrorist activity or radicalization of the 20-year-old in Austria, according to APA information. The suspect had not previously come to the attention of the Directorate for State Protection and Intelligence Services (DSN). This seems to support the assumption of the Bavarian authorities that the motive of the 20-year-old was probably not terrorist in nature.
Pre-trial detention requested on suspicion of attempted murder
Following the attack, the man is now being investigated for attempted murder in two cases and grievous bodily harm, said Senior Public Prosecutor Rauscher. The investigators have applied for pre-trial detention for the 20-year-old. However, he is still in the hospital with serious injuries himself - therefore it is unclear when a possible arrest warrant can be issued and the suspect can be taken to prison.
According to the investigators, the attacker sustained the injuries because his victims defended themselves against the attack - with the help of other passengers who intervened courageously. Among them was a uniformed Bundeswehr soldier, said Lower Bavarian Police Vice President Werner Sika. One of the attacked, a 24-year-old Syrian, was also able to take the hammer from the suspect and injure him with it in return. It is assumed that the 24-year-old acted in self-defense, said Senior Public Prosecutor Rauscher.
In the attack on the train with about 430 passengers from Hamburg to Vienna, in addition to the 24-year-old, two other Syrian nationals aged 15 and 51 were injured, as well as a 38-year-old German.
According to Stefan Schillinger, chief criminal director at the Lower Bavarian Police Headquarters, the attacker had already become conspicuous during the train journey. When the 38-year-old German tried to make an emergency call, the 20-year-old attacked his fellow passengers. Initially, the police assumed minor injuries for the four victims. However, several injured had to be treated in the hospital after the attack. According to the investigators, no one is currently in life-threatening condition.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.