A 14 year old German girl has died after she and her friend were attacked by a man wielding a knife on Monday morning.
Police in southern Germany have launched an investigation into the incident which took place at 7:30 am as the girl and her 13 year old friend were on their way to school in the village of Illerkirchberg near Ulm.
The second victim, also a girl, survived the attack but is in a serious condition.
Police have arrested a 27 year old Eritrean asylum seeker in connection with the attack.
The BBC reported that the man was seen fleeing to a “refugee shelter” after the incident and that a knife believed to be the weapon used in the attack on the two girls was found in his possession.
Another two male asylum seekers were also taken in for questioning.
DW News reported that German police had told reporters that a full background check would be carried out on the suspect in the wake of the attack.
Police are also reported to have asked the public to have “no general suspicion be harbored against foreigners, refugees or asylum-seekers in general, or that such suspicions be aided or abetted.”
Die furchtbaren Nachrichten aus #Illerkirchberg erschüttern mich. Ich trauere um das getötete Mädchen und hoffe inständig, dass das verletzte Mädchen gesund wird. Meine Gedanken sind in diesen Stunden bei ihren Familien. Die Polizei ermittelt mit Hochdruck alle Hintergründe.
— Nancy Faeser (@NancyFaeser) December 5, 2022
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said, “I mourn the girl who was killed and sincerely hope that the injured girl will recover. My thoughts are with their families at this time. The police are investigating all the backgrounds with high pressure.”