On Tuesday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for an an axe attack that occurred on a train in Germany on Monday night.
The attack happened on a local train traveling towards Würzburg at Heidingsfeld, in Bavaria. Three people were seriously injured, one person was left with minor injuries, and 14 people were left in shock. The four injured were members of a Hong Kong family. According to the South China Morning Post, the members hurt were the 62-year-old father, 58-year-old mother, 27-year-old daughter, and her 31-year-old boyfriend. The fifth family member, a 17-year-old son was not injured. Members of the Würzburg police force arrived as the attacker was trying to flee and shot him dead.
The attacker was identified as a 17-year-old Afghan refugee. He traveled to Germany two years ago and lived with a foster family. Isis has declared him to be one of its “fighters.” A hand-drawn Islamic State flag was found in the attacker’s room. He was armed with weapons for slashing and cutting. Isis’s online news agency Amaq claimed the attack through a statement.
“The perpetrator of the stabbing attack in Germany was one of the fighters of the Islamic State and carried out the operation in answer to the calls to target the countries of the coalition fighting the Islamic State.”
Investigators are still examining what led up to the attack.
