Four people were severely wounded in a stabbing attack at a gym in western Germany yesterday, police have said.
Three people were in life-threatening condition, and one person was less severely injured following the attack in Duisburg.
Police said that a ‘stabbing or cutting weapon’ was used in the attack, but did not give any further details.
No arrests were announced, and officers claim they are seeking one suspect. The motive of the attack was not immediately clear.
Four people were severely wounded in a stabbing attack yesterday at the John Reed fitness studio in Duisburg, Germany, police have said. Officers are pictured at the scene
The incident occurred in the old city of Duisburg yesterday evening. Police said they received the first emergency calls at about 5.40pm local time. Armed police officers are pictured in front of the health club
The incident occurred in the old city of Duisburg yesterday evening. Police said they received the first emergency calls at about 5.40pm local time.
A large number of officers were at the scene of the attack, right across from the city hall.
All four injured people are German citizen, police tweeted without giving any further details on their identities.
‘According to current information, one person has injured other people with an object’ at a gym, they tweeted earlier.
Several victims were taken to a hospital, while investigators searched the gym, dpa reported.
Several witnesses to the attack, some still with their sports bags, were taken to a nearby restaurant so police could question them.
Police said that a ‘stabbing or cutting weapon’ was used in the attack, but did not give any further details. Forensics personnel are pictured securing the area after the attack
No arrests were announced, and officers claim they are seeking one suspect. The motive of the attack was not immediately clear. Ambulances and helpers are pictured at the scene yesterday
Helicopters were hovering above the gym and psychologists were brought in to help shocked witnesses.
The attacker appeared to still be on the loose, German news agency dpa reported.
‘There has been no arrest,’ police told dpa, adding that a hunt was under way for the attacker. Investigators also said it was too early to talk about a possible motive behind the attack.
Several hours after the attack, the operator of the gym said it deeply regretted the incident.
‘We deeply regret the incident at our club in Duisburg and hope that the victims will recover quickly,’ John Reed Fitness wrote in an email to dpa.
The gym chain, which has branches in several cities in Germany and also other countries, said it was supporting the police investigation and that ‘the safety and health of our members and our employees are our top priority.’
The gym chain, which has branches in several cities in Germany and also other countries, said it was supporting the police investigation. A member of the forensics team is picture inspecting the fitness club
Three people were in life-threatening condition, and one person was less severely injured following the attack in Duisburg. The John Reed fitness studio in Duisburg, Germany is pictured after the knifing
The president of the German parliament, Baerbel Bas, who is from Duisburg, expressed shock over the attack.
‘Terrible. My thoughts are with the injured,’ Bas tweeted. ‘I hope that the emergency services will soon be able to clear up the threatening situation.’
Duisburg has about 500,000 residents and is located at the junction of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers. It used to be famous for its coal mining and steel production, but has in recent decades been plagued by high unemployment and poverty.
Yesterday’s attack comes about a month after a gunman stormed a service at his former Jehovah’s Witness hall in the northern Germany city of Hamburg, killing six people before taking his own life after police arrived.
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