Koblenz Court: Schizophrenia or Hatred? Trial against attackers!

Koblenz Court: Schizophrenia or Hatred? Trial against attackers!

Security proceedings against a 32-year-old man who became violent in Neuwied in July 2025 are currently being continued at the Koblenz regional court. This incident caused a stir because the defendant hit a Muslim woman on the head with a telescopic bat and then shouted xenophobic slogans. What is worrying is the statement made by the man's mother, who has already reported that her son was suspicious even in infancy. The public prosecutor's office assumes that the man is incapable of guilt and therefore bears no responsibility for his actions, which will be clarified during the proceedings. You can read more details about this case in an article in the Rhein-Zeitung, which sheds light on the background and addresses the mother's statements ( Rhine newspaper ).

Another incident in Munich, which occurred shortly after the incident in Neuwied, also shows a worrying development. On July 23, a 41-year-old man attacked two young Muslims in Pasing with a kitchen knife. The victims were 18 and 25 years old and had just returned from prayer at the mosque when they were attacked without warning. The attacker, who allowed himself to be arrested without resistance, made anti-Muslim comments after the crime. According to the Munich Muslim Council, the perpetrator was particularly brutal by attacking a victim from behind and then striking again. Police were on the scene within four minutes, potentially preventing anything worse from happening. Here too, there are indications that the attacker had a psychiatric illness, which is why the Munich Public Prosecutor's Office has applied for protective proceedings to place the man permanently in a psychiatric facility in order to protect the general public. You can find more details about the situation in the report in the Süddeutsche Zeitung ( South German newspaper ).

Psychiatric problems as a background

The psychiatric illnesses of the perpetrators are at the forefront of both incidents and could be a key reason why such violent attacks have been occurring more frequently recently. While the 41-year-old's case is known to have a history of offenses relevant to state security, such as incitement to hatred and shouting the banned Nazi salute, there are also signs in the 32-year-old's case that he has a predisposition to violent acts and abnormalities in his early childhood. From the authorities' perspective, this link between mental illness and violent extremism requires more detailed investigation and preventive measures.

As citizens of these cities, we cannot simply turn a blind eye. Such violent acts, whether in Cologne, Munich or elsewhere, require our attention and our collective action. Only through awareness and prevention can improvement be achieved in the future.