After the knife attack in Würzburg, the exact background and motives of the perpetrator are still unclear, according to the Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU).
The question of whether the suspect should also be classified as a terrorist in addition to a mental illness can "not yet be answered at the present time," he said on Monday in the ZDF "Morgenmagazin".
The investigation was ongoing.
The minister added that it was still unclear whether the perpetrator's typical Islamist exclamations during the crime were "important".
"We cannot give a final verdict on this today."
The analysis of two cell phones that were confiscated from the 24-year-old Somali’s accommodation is now of central importance for the reconstruction.
However, he cannot yet say exactly who the man was in contact with.
Herrmann had previously said on "Bild live" that there was a lot to be said for an "Islamist-motivated act".
"Some things were found in the attacker's accommodation that could point to Islamist propaganda material".
In addition, the perpetrator himself spoke of "his contribution to jihad".
But one had to wait for the further investigations, he also emphasized there.
The attacker killed three women in downtown Würzburg on Friday and attacked numerous other people with a knife before being stopped and overwhelmed by police officers with a targeted shot in the leg.
Passers-by had previously tried to keep the man in check.
The perpetrator is in custody for multiple murders and attempted murders.
The motives for his actions are unclear.
According to Herrmann, none of the five seriously injured victims were in mortal danger on Monday.
But it is to be feared that "long-lasting damage" will remain with some, he said in the "Moma".
The act was "incredibly brutal".
According to investigators, the suspect, who lives in a homeless shelter, had already become suspicious of confused and aggressive behavior several times before the bloody act and was therefore temporarily in a psychiatric clinic twice.
But he hadn't hurt anyone.
This illness-related history is currently being examined in more detail, said Herrmann in the "Moma".
In his opinion, however, it was of no use "to look for a drawer now in which to pack such a perpetrator".
Overall, the crime is "terribly pointless", and for the injured and the bereaved, it does not make any difference at first.
However, it is important to investigate the motives and backgrounds for future prevention work.
Herrmann pointed out that, according to experts, a "combination" of psychological problems and susceptibility to "radical fantasies" was more common among assassins.
Such constellations also existed with perpetrators in the right-wing extremist area, he said.
That must therefore be analyzed.
At a memorial service in Würzburg Cathedral, representatives from politics and religion thought of the victims of the knife attack on Sunday.
Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) said at the memorial service that the crime was filled with hatred and "hurts infinitely".
At the same time he urged "prudence" when dealing with the crime.
"Good and bad" is not a question of nationality or religion.
General prejudgments of entire population groups did not alleviate pain or grief.
bro / pw