Macheten attack in Linz: Investigations into the Islamist background taken

Macheten attack in Linz: Investigations into the Islamist background taken

in the city of Linz in Rhineland-Palatinate there was a threatening incident during the night when a 29-year-old man attacked a police station armed with a machete. The Attorney General in Koblenz classifies this attack as Islamistically motivated. Fortunately, the police were unharmed because the security forces acted quickly and effectively to control the situation.

The incident occurred at 2:40 a.m. when the alleged attacker repeatedly called "Allahu Akbar", which means "God is great". With the announcement that he wants to kill police officers, he penetrated the guard. The officials reacted immediately by blocking the entrance doors and access to the courtyard, which prevented the attacker's escape.

arrest of the suspect

End forces from special units were able to arrest the man in a sealed safety lock. An electric shock device, also called Taser, was used, which slightly injured the 29-year-old. A search of his apartment also provided a drawing of the flag of the terrorist organization of Islamic state on the wall, which made the investigators aware of the possible radicalized motif of the perpetrator.

According to Alexander Schweitzer, the Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, the suspect is an Albanian citizen. He is now being brought in front of a judge who will decide whether he is being taken into custody. These quickly initiated measures show how seriously the authorities take such incidents and how important the safety of the population is.

The city of Linz is located in the Neuwied district and is located in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate, near the border with North Rhine-Westphalia. The incident in Linz happens in a sensitive context, especially after an 18-year-old man with Bosnian roots was recently shot by the police when attacking the Israeli Consulate General in Munich. In this case too, there was indications that the perpetrator may have radicalized religiously.

The state central office for combating terrorism and extremism Rhineland-Palatinate has taken over the investigation into the current incident, which underlines the importance of the situation. In times when extremism and violence increase in different forms, the protection of citizens by the security authorities is becoming increasingly important.