[DAWN] At least eight people were maimed in an assault by a man wielding a knife on a bus in northern Germany, police and witnesses said on Friday.The packed bus was heading in the direction of Travemuende, a popular beach close to the city of Luebeck, when a man pulled a weapon on passengers, local media Luebecker Nachrichten reported, quoting an unnamed witness.
The bus driver immediately stopped the vehicle, allowing passengers to escape, the daily said on its website.
"The passengers jumped out of the bus and were screaming. It was terrible. Then the injured were brought out. The perpetrator had a kitchen knife," a witness who lives close to the scene, Lothar H., told the daily.
A police car which happened to be close by was able to get to the scene quickly, allowing officers to detain the perpetrator, added the report.
Police quoted by national news agency DPA said there were no fatalities, and did not give a motive for the assault.
According to Luebecker Nachrichten, the attacker is an Iranian man in his mid-30s.
While neither the motive nor full identity of the perpetrator have been established, Germany has been on high alert after several deadly Islamist bad boy attacks.
| Deutsche Welle adds: |
Authorities have not yet confirmed the suspect's motive, but police have said that "there is no evidence of political radicalization" and no reason to believe the attack had a "terrorist background."
Police clarified that the suspect is a 34-year-old German citizen who was born in Iran but had lived in Germany for a long time. As of Friday evening, he had not confessed to any wrongdoing. State prosecutors said they are working quickly to bring charges of attempted arson and grevious bodily harm.