An Afghan man will stand trial on Thursday, October 16th in Germany over a knife attack that killed a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man in Aschaffenburg, leaving three others injured. This year’s January 22nd assault targeted a group of toddlers riding in a wooden cart with their teachers.
The suspect, partially named as 28-year-old Enamullah O., has a history of mental illness. Prosecutors said a psychiatric assessment found him not criminally responsible and they are seeking permanent confinement in a psychiatric facility. Authorities found no evidence of extremist or terrorist motives following the violence, which fits into a wider pattern of European security failings.
The attack reignited Germany’s heated pre-election debate on immigration. Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised strict border controls and an overhaul of asylum rules. He also relied on support from the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland to pass a non-binding parliamentary resolution calling for tougher immigration policies.
