Axe attack at a train station in Germany

A group of people attacked the main train station in the western German city of Duesseldorf with axes on the evening of March 9 (local time), injuring five people.

"Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc incites parishioners."

AFP quoted police as saying the suspects attacked the victims as they passed by, but fortunately their lives were not in danger. Police have arrested two suspects and believe the remaining attackers fled the scene.

Police arrive at Duesseldorf's main train station after an axe attack on the evening of March 9. Photo: AFP

Details about the two suspects arrested, as well as their motives for the attack, are currently unavailable. Police also admit they do not know exactly how many people were involved in the attack.

According to The Guardian, police later confirmed they had only arrested one suspect in the attack, and that this person was suspected of having mental health issues. The suspect had deliberately attacked passengers at the train station.

According to The Guardian, seven people were injured, and police ruled out the possibility that the attack was terrorist-motivated.

Following the incident, the station was temporarily closed, while numerous helicopters patrolled the area and police were deployed.

German authorities have heightened their vigilance regarding the risk of terrorist attacks, particularly since the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility in December 2016 for a hijacked truck ramming into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.

According to German security forces, there are approximately 10,000 Muslim extremists operating in the country, including 1,600 suspected of being involved with terrorist groups.

According to TNO