German police announced Monday evening the arrest of a man suspected of carrying out a stabbing attack that injured five people in the western city of Bielefeld, an incident that has stirred public opinion in Germany and reignited debate about security and immigration issues.
Police said the suspect, believed to be a 35-year-old Syrian national, was arrested during a raid by special forces in the town of Heilgenhaus, near Düsseldorf, targeting two locations on Monday evening.
Authorities told the German Press Agency (dpa) that they were "almost certain" of the arrested person's identity, but that he was still being formally investigated. He is considered the main suspect in the case, which began with an attack early Sunday morning.
The attack targeted a group of five men, aged between 22 and 27, who were outside a bar near Bielefeld's main train station. They were attacked with a sharp object.
Four victims were seriously injured, two of whom were initially described as critical but later stabilized, according to a police statement issued Monday evening.
During a search of the crime scene, police found several knives, along with a bag containing identity documents and a bottle containing a liquid saturated with the smell of gasoline, raising questions about possible, more complex motives.
Police have not yet confirmed whether one of the seized knives was used in the attack. The Bielefeld Public Prosecutor's Office said the investigation is investigating all possible avenues, with further updates expected on Tuesday.
Police confirmed that the suspect has no prior criminal record, making the case even more mysterious and heightening the importance of psychological and social investigations related to him, at a time when the refugee issue in Germany is witnessing increasing political controversy.
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