Law enforcement agencies are committed to achieving balance in Siegen
After a knife attack on a bus in Siegen, several people were injured, six of them seriously. Surprisingly, the perpetrator, a 32-year-old German woman without a migration background, does not fit the typical perpetrator profile. The authorities are therefore asking for patience in assessing the case and are warning against speculation and prejudice.
The suspect attacked fellow travelers in Siegen-Eiserfeld on Friday evening, injuring six people, three of them seriously. According to the police and public prosecutor, there is no evidence that the act was politically or religiously motivated. Instead, the woman's actions show signs of mental instability.
The victims are between 16 and 30 years old and come from the Siegen-Wittgenstein district. The bus was on its way to a city festival and had about 30 other passengers on board.
Following the attack, the Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, appealed for unity. The CDU politician told WDR that it was important “that we do not allow fear or blame, but instead remain strong and stand together.” Reul already wanted to visit the city festival.
Last week, a similar knife attack at a city festival in Solingen left three people dead and eight injured, some of them seriously. The suspected perpetrator, a 26-year-old Syrian, was arrested. The Federal Prosecutor's Office assumes an Islamist background, thus fueling discussions about deportations and knife bans.
The police and the prosecutor's office continue to investigate the woman's actions, as no motive for the attack has been found so far. Despite the serious injuries, the police have ensured that all necessary measures are taken to maintain peace and security in the city.
