Bloody deed at elementary school: charges against suspects

Created: 2022-11-30Updated: 2022-11-30 13:01

A sign reading 'Police' hangs at a police headquarters.

© Roland Weihrauch/dpa/Symbolbild

In the middle of the holidays, in the middle of the city, a bloody deed shakes the people of Esslingen.

A man attacks in an elementary school, he has a knife and stabs.

For the attack, he will probably have to answer in court in Stuttgart.

Esslingen – Almost half a year after a bloody knife attack in an Esslingen elementary school, charges have been brought against a suspect.

The Stuttgart public prosecutor accuses the 25-year-old of attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.

He is said to have attacked the school's holiday care early on June 10 and assaulted a seven-year-old girl, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

The man hit the child several times on the back of the head and neck with the blade of a kitchen knife and seriously injured him.

He also injured a 61-year-old caregiver who wanted to help the girl with the knife.

However, it is unclear to what extent the man can be held responsible for the crime.

There are indications that he could be less criminally responsible and dangerous because of a mental disorder or mental illness.

"The determination of any reason for reducing the guilt and the requirements for placement in a psychiatric hospital are reserved for the main hearing," the public prosecutor said.

In a next step, the Regional Court of Stuttgart must decide whether to open main proceedings.

So far, according to the police, it is certain that the girl attacked was a random victim.

The German-born man with a Dutch passport had not previously known the supervisor either.

dpa