A train station stabbing attack has left three people wounded in Winterthur and has spurred a massive police response raising fears of a public safety crisis. The attacker attacked the busy station where commuters and travellers were at the station at the time of the attack, prosecutor Simon J. Müller said.
As Swiss authorities said, at 3:45 a.m., a man armed with a knife suddenly attacked several persons around the station premises. Emergency services and police were quickly called to the scene as soon as the attack was reported.
The victims were injured and were treated immediately and transported to nearby hospitals. The injuries were still being treated at the time of the attack, and the extent of the injuries in this case is not yet known, officials said.
Witnesses have described panic and confusion as people rushed out of the train station at the time of the stabbing. Police and station staff were seen sheltering themselves in the train station as people fled.
Local police quickly launched a large-scale operation to control the situation and prevent any further danger. Officers cordoned off sections of the station area and conducted searches to ensure there were no other threats. The suspected attacker was detained later that day, authorities said.
The Swiss police have not disclosed the identity or motive of the suspect yet. Investigators are investigating whether the attack was targeted or random. Video evidence and testimony from witnesses are being reviewed as part of the investigation, officials said.
The incident caused a brief disruption to transportation around the train station and trains were delayed at times (see Fig. 1), some of which were reported to have run late as emergency work was under way. Railway authorities and police worked together to get back to normal operations after the area was secured.
The stabbing has once again highlighted security issues in public transportation hubs across Europe. Train stations are packed with people, and are so susceptible to sudden violent attacks. Swiss authorities said everything is under control and there is no immediate threat to the public.
Winterthur residents expressed shock at the attack as one of the safer cities in Switzerland. Many social media users took to social media to express sympathy and support for the victims.
And the police have asked the public not to spread unverified information during the investigation. We expect more about the suspect, the victims, and the circumstances of the attack to emerge subsequently, as the police are investigating, officials said.
Switzerland has seen relatively few violent public attacks compared to other European countries, so incidents like the Winterthur train station stabbing often draw widespread attention nationwide.
We expect further information as the investigation is ongoing and the injured victims’ condition is clearer.
