Shock on the ICE: Man attacks passengers – investigations underway!

Shock on the ICE: Man attacks passengers – investigations underway!

On Thursday, July 3, 2025, a shocking incident occurred on the railway line between Hamburg-Altona and Vienna that frightened travelers on the ICE 91. A 20-year-old Syrian attacked several passengers, injuring four of them, including three members of a Syrian family aged 15, 24 and 51, and a 38-year-old German. The authorities were immediately alerted and rushed to the scene of the accident with a large contingent while the train with around 430 to 500 passengers was in motion. Neumarkt Current reports that all the injured are being treated in various hospitals, but none of them are in danger of death.

The suspected attacker was overpowered by other travelers and seriously injured himself. He is also in hospital, while the Regensburg public prosecutor's office has already applied for an arrest warrant on strong suspicion of attempted murder. The Straubing Criminal Police Inspectorate has secured extensive evidence at the crime scene and has begun the investigation. There is also the possibility that the perpetrator was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the crime, as this is suspected by the investigators. A toxicology report is still pending.

Unique circumstances of the act

What is particularly frightening is that a witness reported that the man shouted the words “Allahu Akbar” during the attack. However, there is currently no concrete evidence of an Islamist-motivated act. The criminal police are now asking witnesses who may have taken photos, video or audio recordings of the crime scene to come forward. In view of the terrible events, a collection point for passengers is being set up in nearby Straßkirchen to offer support to those affected.

The 20-year-old Syrian, who is registered in Vienna and has been recognized as an asylum seeker, has already appeared before the police for violent crimes. In Germany, however, there was no previous knowledge of the man. Against this background, the incident raises questions about the security situation in the railway sector, particularly with regard to violent crime. According to the police crime statistics 2024 Violent crime in Germany rose by around 1.5% to its highest level since 2007, which is a cause for concern.

Safe lanes for everyone

Traveler safety is of utmost importance. The increasing violent crime, particularly by non-German suspects, poses major challenges for the authorities. In 2024, statistics recorded 85,012 cases, representing an increase of 7.5%. These developments have reignited the discussion about preventative measures and surveillance at stations and on trains.

The current events on ICE 91 illustrate how important it is to act quickly and decisively to ensure the safety of passengers. The investigation is ongoing and the public is encouraged to contact authorities with any information that could help solve the case. Another goal should be to ensure safety on public transport so that future incidents of this type can at least be defused.