Investigation Launched Against Police After Aschaffenburg Stabbing Incident

An investigation is underway concerning a police oversight linked to a stabbing incident in Aschaffenburg, where the suspected perpetrator had reportedly been involved in a prior knife attack five months earlier. Authorities are scrutinizing whether adequate action was taken by law enforcement following the earlier event.

The Staatsanwaltschaft Coburg, along with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, is currently examining the circumstances surrounding an incident that occurred on August 29, 2024, at a refugee shelter in Alzenau, located in the Aschaffenburg district. The investigation has been initiated based on a formal complaint, although specific details remain sparse as the inquiry is still in its preliminary stages.

According to reports, the individual, an Afghan man, allegedly killed two unknown persons in a park in Aschaffenburg on January 22, 2025. The earlier incident in Alzenau involved a confrontation among shelter residents, during which the suspect was reported to be aggressive and under the influence of alcohol. Police responded to the scene following reports of the disturbance.

During this altercation, the 28-year-old was restrained by fellow residents in his room. Notably, his then-girlfriend sustained injuries, but the exact origin of these injuries was not disclosed at the time to law enforcement.

Following the initial police intervention, the suspect was taken into custody. However, subsequent investigations did not yield any indications of criminal behavior, according to the Bavarian Interior Ministry. The ministry confirmed this in response to inquiries from a member of the state parliament.

It wasn't until after the January 22 incident that the suspect's girlfriend revealed during questioning that she had previously been attacked with a knife in Alzenau. Similarly, a witness corroborated this account in various media outlets following the stabbing attack that took place in Aschaffenburg.

Due to the ambiguity surrounding the woman's statements, law enforcement suspects that the knife attack occurred on August 29, 2024. This led to the initiation of criminal proceedings against the suspect for suspected aggravated assault.

Following the January incident, which tragically resulted in the deaths of a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old father, the suspect was placed in a secure psychiatric facility due to indications of mental health issues. Prior to the attack, he had been under police scrutiny for various offenses, including multiple incidents of bodily harm, and had spent time in psychiatric care.

In total, there have been 18 criminal proceedings against the individual across 12 cases in Bavaria, along with four cases in Hesse. Five of these proceedings have been closed by the courts, while two resulted in fines. The status of the remaining cases is still pending.