2016 Munich knife attack

Mass stabbing in Grafing, Germany 2016 Munich attack the mass shooting in July 2016 Munich shooting July 2026 Grafing, Bavaria, Germany 10 May 2016 04:50 CEST UTC+2 Mass stabbing 1 3 Paul H. Knife On 10 May 2016, a mass stabbing occurred at the train station of Grafing, a suburb of Munich, Germany. One person was killed and three others injured. The perpetrator, a 27-year-old German man, was arrested. In August 2017, the Munich II District Court (Landgericht München II) ruled that the man was not criminally liable for the crime and committed him to a closed psychiatric facility.Eisenberger Korbinian 17 August 2017 Messerattacke von Grafing: Angreifer muss in geschlossene Psychiatrie http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/ebersberg/prozess-messerattacke-von-grafing-angreifer-muss-in-geschlossene-psychiatrie-1.3630765 18 November 2017 Süddeutsche Zeitung german The case briefly gained international attention as a potential terrorist attack, as the perpetrator had shouted "Allahu Akbar", although it was later revealed that he had no Islamist background and an extensive record for mental illness. Although German media reported that there was no evidence for a political or religious motive hours after the stabbing, misinformation spread on social media. The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party accused police of a cover-up and falsely attributed the stabbing to a convicted Islamist who had died the previous year.2016-05-11 Das steckt hinter der angeblichen Wahrheit über den Täter-Namen https://www.merkur.de/lokales/ebersberg/grafing-ort28746/messerattacke-grafing-bahnhof-news-blog-will-luege-falschen-taeter-namen-aufgedeckt-haben-6391838.html Münchener Merkur de2016-05-11 Wie die AfD einen toten Moslem zum Messerstecher von Grafing machte https://www.stern.de/panorama/verbrechen/grafing--afd-macht-toten-moslem-zum-messerstecher-6845082.html Stern de Background English language media most commonly describe the stabbing as taking place in Munich, as Grafing, located around 30 km mi kilometres south of the city, is connected to the Munich S-Bahn system.2016-05-11 Wirrer Angriff auf „Ungläubige“ https://taz.de/Wirrer-Angriff-auf-Unglaeubige/!5299646/ Die Tageszeitung: taz de 0931-9085Oberhuber Nadine 2016-05-10 Grafing: Gewalt, die selbst der Täter nicht versteht https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2016-05/grafing-bayern-messerattacke-islamismus-psychische-probleme-drogen Die Zeit de-DE 0044-2070 The stabbing occurred amidst heightened security concerns regarding Islamic terrorism in Europe.Attentat in Grafing bei München: „Do-it-yourself-Terror“ https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/do-it-yourself-terror-5215510.html 2026-01-17 Der Tagesspiegel Online de-DE 1865-2263 2016-05-10 Bayern: Tatverdächtiger gesteht Messerangriff am S-Bahnhof Grafing https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2016-05/bayern-messerangriff-verdacht-islamisitischer-hintergrund Die Zeit de-DE 0044-2070 The attack The attack occurred during the morning hours of 10 May 2016 at Grafing station.Weaver Matthew One dead and three injured in knife attack at train station near Munich https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/10/people-injured-knife-attack-train-station-near-munich-grafing 10 May 2016 The Guardian 10 May 2016 A 56-year-old man was attacked by the perpetrator with a 10 cm in mid -long knife on board a Munich S-Bahn train; the victim later died at a hospital. The attacker then assaulted another man on the station platform before targeting two cyclists outside, including a 58 year old local newspaper deliveryman who was seriously injured.Acker Michael Ersthelfer nach Grafinger Blutbad: Ich sah dem Täter in die Augen http://www.merkur.de/lokales/ebersberg/grafing/messerattacke-grafing-bahnhof-torben-puhlmann-einer-ersten-helfer-6405330.html 17 June 2016 Münchner Merkur 17 May 2016 German "Ein Allah-Fan hat mir in den Rücken gestochen", seien die ersten Worte des schwerverletzten Zeitungsausträgers gewesen According to eyewitnesses and confirmed by investigators, the perpetrator shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great" in Arabic) and, in German, "Infidel, you must die now" during the attack.Eddy Melissa Knife Attack Near Munich Kills One https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/world/europe/germany-knife-attack.html 10 May 2016 The New York Times 10 May 2016 All victims were randomly chosen. The train driver and a security official were reported to have chased the man away from the station. Police officers responded at the crime scene on 5:04 a.m. and arrested a suspect only minutes later in front of the station. Perpetrator The perpetrator was a 27-year-old unemployed carpenterStaff writers 10 May 2016 One man dead, three more injured in 'Islamist motivated' knife attack at Munich train station http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/05/10/16/29/reports-of-stabbing-at-munich-train-station 10 May 2016 9news with no known ties to Islamist organizations. In accordance with German privacy law, he was named as "Paul H.".Mulholland Rory 11 May 2016 Munich knife attack: One dead after man shouting 'Allahu Akbar' attacks four at train station in Grafing, Germany https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/10/one-man-dead-after-attacker-heard-shouting-allahu-akbar-knifes-m/ 13 May 2016 The Telegraph The perpetrator was arrested in the hours following the attackAngerer Carlo Jamieson Alastair 10 May 2016 German Train Station Attack: Deadly Stabbing Spree Near Munich https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/munich-train-station-attack-several-stabbed-kinfe-attacker-n571006 10 May 2016 NBC News and eventually admitted to a psychiatric hospital.Hermann Kristin 17 May 2016 Messerstecher von Grafing war vor der Tat mehrere Tage in Bremen http://www.weser-kurier.de/bremen/bremen-stadtreport_artikel,-Messerstecher-von-Grafing-war-vor-der-Tat-mehrere-Tage-in-Bremen-_arid,1378244.html 18 July 2016 Weser-Kurier German Nach der tödlichen Attacke wurde H. in ein psychiatrisches Krankenhaus eingewiesen - After the deadly attack H. was admitted to a psychiatric hospital - H. had a drug addiction and was previously diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia.Eisenberger Korbinian 2017-08-17 Messerattacke von Grafing: Angreifer in Psychiatrie https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/ebersberg/prozess-messerattacke-von-grafing-angreifer-muss-in-geschlossene-psychiatrie-1.3630765 Süddeutsche de Despite the partially published name and nationality, social media users speculated that H. was not ethnically German and potentially had a migration background. It was later specified that this was not the case and that H. was born in Hesse.10 May 2016 Völlig unvermittelt stach der Täter auf seine Opfer ein Quite unexpectedly stabbed the offender on his victims a http://www.n24.de/n24/Nachrichten/Politik/d/8498200/voellig-unvermittelt-stach-der-taeter-auf-seine-opfer-ein.html 10 May 2016 N24 GermanDearden Lizzie 11 May 2016 Munich knife attack: Family of German suspect say he is 'no terrorist' and detail drug and mental health problems https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/munich-knife-attack-family-of-german-suspect-say-he-is-no-terrorist-and-detail-drug-and-mental-a7024366.html subscription live https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/munich-knife-attack-family-of-german-suspect-say-he-is-no-terrorist-and-detail-drug-and-mental-a7024366.html 1 May 2022 22 May 2016 The Independent2016-05-10 Grafing: Messerattacke an S-Bahnhof - ein Toter https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/grafing-mann-verletzt-vier-personen-mit-messer-a-1091534.html 2026-01-17 Der Spiegel de 2195-1349 Some international press agencies initially claimed that the attacker was Rafik Yousef, an Ansar al-Islam member convicted of an attempted assassination plot on former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.Dearden Lizzie A suspected Islamist has launched a stabbing attack in Germany https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/munich-stabbing-suspected-islamist-shouts-allahu-akbar-before-launching-attack-at-railway-station-in-a7021816.html 10 May 2016 The Independent 10 May 2016 en-GB This was widely reported despite the fact that Rafik was killed by Berlin Police a year prior to the attack in a stabbing incident. Moreover, the further Bavarian Police described the attacker as a 27-year-old German national, whereas Rafik had Iraqi citizenship and was 41 at the time of his death. Aftermath Investigation On 10 May 2016 a spokesperson at the Bavarian state criminal investigation office stated that she could not confirm that the attack was related to terrorism. Police investigated a potential Islamist motive, but that the perpetrator made contradictory statements,Turner Zeke Houston-Waesch Monica One Man Dead, Three Injured in Knife Attack Near Munich https://www.wsj.com/articles/four-injured-in-knife-attack-near-munich-1462865328 10 May 2016 The Wall Street Journal 10 May 2016 and the same day a spokesperson of the prosecutor's office, said that an "Islamistic background" was no longer suspected.https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article155205280/Ein-Toter-durch-womoeglich-islamistischen-Messerangriff.html Grafinger Messerstecher hatte offenbar psychische Probleme Grafing stabber apparently had mental problems Die Welt German 10 May 2016 10 May 2016 Later that day, it was reported that the perpetrator had drug and mental problems and was treated two days earlier. The assumption that the attacker was an Islamist was ruled out, but a political motive was still being considered, though the attacker appeared to be confused during the interrogation, was not cooperating during first interrogation, but later admitted to committing the attack. No links to terrorist networks were known. The police established a special commission, consisting of 80 officers. The perpetrator's cell phone and tablet computer were found and evaluated; in addition, CCTV recordings from the train and station were investigated. Security measures Service at the train station was temporarily closed to allow authorities to conduct their investigation.https://www.yahoo.com/gma/stabbing-germany-leaves-1-dead-3-wounded-authorities-083938211--abc-news-topstories.html Stabbing in Germany Leaves 1 Dead, 3 Wounded, Authorities Say Yahoo! GMA 10 May 2016 10 May 2016 Brian McBride Josie Le Blond The attack caused the New York City Police Department to temporarily increase security on the New York City Subway system while investigators looked into possible connections to international militant organizations.Prendergast Daniel NYPD tightens subway security after deadly attack in Germany https://nypost.com/2016/05/10/nypd-tightens-subway-security-after-deadly-attack-in-germany/ 19 May 2016 New York Post 10 May 2016Chung Jen NYPD Increases Subway Security After Fatal Attack At Munich Train Station http://gothamist.com/2016/05/10/nypd_increases_subway_security_afte.php https://web.archive.org/web/20171105180521/http://gothamist.com/2016/05/10/nypd_increases_subway_security_afte.php dead 5 November 2017 19 May 2016 Gothamist 10 May 2016 Discussions made in the wake of the attack raised the possibility that bag checks at German train stations might have found the knife used in the attack and prevented it from happening, but German public opinion believes that such searches are an invasion of privacy.Garaev Polina Valuing privacy more than most, experts disagree if Germans would accept regular searches of their belongings http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/europe/113342-160515-will-germans-learn-from-israel-how-to-live-under-the-threat-of-terror 19 May 2016 I24News 14 May 2016 Mental illness discussion The attack was cited as one of a number of incidents in which mentally disturbed individuals launched violent attacks under the justification of Islamist ideas or slogans.Global terrorist groups exploit mentally ill people to carry out attacks http://www.straitstimes.com/world/global-terrorist-groups-exploit-mentally-ill-people-to-carry-out-attacks-experts 17 May 2016 Agence France The Straits Times 12 May 2016The Convergence of Mental Illness and Terrorism http://soufangroup.com/tsg-intelbrief-the-convergence-of-mental-illness-and-terrorism/ 17 May 2016 Soufan Group 11 May 2016 16 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160516022219/http://soufangroup.com/tsg-intelbrief-the-convergence-of-mental-illness-and-terrorism/ dead Other examples include Man Haron Monis, the gunman in the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis; and Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, the perpetrator of the 2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa. According to psychologists and psychiatrists who study radicalization, jihad propaganda and calls to kill infidels can push mentally disturbed individuals to act, even in the absence of direct or personal contact with radical Islamists. Other reactions German Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière condemned the attack as "cowardly and outrageous" on the day of the assault. A conspiracy theory, which began in Italy before spreading to Germany and then to the English-speaking world, purported that Paul H. was actually named Rafik Youssef and that his name had been changed as part of a cover-up. Rafik Yousef was an Islamist in Berlin who was shot dead by police in September 2015.Pezet Jacques Attaques au couteau en Bavière : comment le coupable Paul H. est devenu Rafik Youssef Knife attacks in Bavaria: how the perpetrator Paul H. became Rafik Youssef http://www.liberation.fr/desintox/2016/05/12/attaques-au-couteau-en-baviere-comment-le-coupable-paul-h-est-devenu-rafik-youssef_1452149 13 May 2016 Libération 12 May 2016 French The attack was compared to a knife attackRebecca Staudenmaier Reports: Hanover teen may have followed 'IS' orders when stabbing cop http://www.dw.com/en/reports-hanover-teen-may-have-followed-is-orders-when-stabbing-cop/a-19295024 25 July 2016 Deutsche Welle 31 May 2016 Since the German-Moroccan teen Safia S. assaulted a policeman with a knife in February, federal prosecutors and investigators in Germany have been trying to determine if the stabbing was an act of terrorism. New evidence could prove that the attack was not only inspired by the militant "Islamic State" (IS) group, but that Safia S. may have received direct orders to carry it out. at Hanover main station earlier that year on 26 February.https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/1-toter-bei-messerangriff-am-s-bahnhof-bei-muenchen-14224641.html Ein Toter bei mutmaßlich islamistischem Messerangriff in München One dead in suspected Islamist knife attack in Munich Frankfurter Allgemeine German 10 May 2016 10 May 2016 The Italian newspaper La Repubblica compared this attack to the 2016 Wurzburg train attack,Katia Riccardi Germania, 17enne afgano colpisce con ascia passeggeri su treno : tre feriti gravi http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2016/07/18/news/germania_armato_di_accetta_colpisce_passeggeri_su_treno_molti_feriti-144399449/?ref=HREA-1 18 July 2016 La Repubblica 18 July 2016 Italian A few months ago, May 10, at Grafing station on the S4 line, the train that connects to Munich, at 5 am, a man, Paul H., 27, had attacked four passengers with blows of knife, killing one and wounding three others. He was suffering from mental disorders, drug addiction, and had executed his death plan shouting "Allah akbar." as did the BBC.Germany axe attack: Assault on train in Wuerzburg https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36827725 18 July 2016 BBC 18 July 2016 In May, a man reportedly shouting "Allahu akbar" ("God is great" in Arabic), killed one person and wounded three others in a knife attack at a railway station near the German city of Munich. Journalist Nabila Ramdani expressed outrage at what she termed the "purposeful" and "grossly manipulative" media use of the phrase Allahu Akbar, which, she claims, has become, a "trigger for publicity: the perfect tool for those seeking to spread as much discord as possible".Ramdani Nabila Countering Fear http://newsweekme.com/countering-fear/ 26 May 2016 Newsweek 25 May 2016 Nabila Ramdani Verdict On 17 August 2017, the Landgericht München II deemed the accused not criminally liable for his actions in Grafing. His mental illness, testified to by a psychiatrist in court, was acknowledged not only by the judge, but also by the prosecution as well as the accessory prosecution of several victims. He was then sentenced to stay in a closed psychiatric ward for an undetermined time. See also Islamic terrorism in Europe List of mass stabbings in Germany Germany References 30em Category:2016 crimes in Germany Category:2016 in Bavaria Category:2010s in Munich Category:Crime in Bavaria Category:Ebersberg (district) Category:Knife attacks in Germany Category:Mass stabbings in Germany Category:May 2016 crimes in Europe Category:May 2016 in Germany Category:Stabbing attacks in 2016