Luebeck knife attack: Ali D suffers from severe mental health problems…

Or so his father told told SPIEGEL TV. I don’t want to trivialise the trials and tribulations of those who genuinely have mental problems, or the grief seeing a loved one suffer so can cause their family. But it seems to afflict too many of this sudden attack syndrome from an Islamic background.

I’ll paraphrase this from SPIEGEL on line as I’m having to substantially supplement my schoolgirl German with Google translate. 

There are no indications of a terrorist background or a political radicalization, says State Attorney Ulla Hingst. So what has motivated the culprit?

SPIEGEL TV spoke to the father of the arrested man. His son Ali D. was born in Iran and came to Germany at the age of six. He attended a high school, but he left school without a high school diploma. he is currently unemployed and lives in an apartment in Luebeck.

The father describes his son as psychologically vulnerable.

“He felt haunted by the neighbors.” His son claimed that they maltreated him with harmful radiation attacks through the wall. “He always said, ‘My body is burning.’ Or: ‘They want to break my eyes.’ ” His father said he wasn’t religious. 

He was also in dispute with his former partner over access and custody of their child who he had not been allowed to see for some time. 

The events inside the bus are described. Ali D had a backpack which contained some sort of inflammible accelerant. This was alight and smouldering. The bus driver took a fire extinguisher to the bag and Ali D punched him to prevent this. Ali D then pulled out a kitchen knife and stabbed passengers. The driver had the presence of mind to open the bus doors s the passengers could escape. nearby police officers arrested Ali D.

He was taken before the magistrate this morning. SPIEGEL on line says he is charged with serious bodily harm and attempted arson. Another German publication says the charge is attempted murder.  Several people remain in hospital with serious injuries. 

He has given no account to the police or courts as to his motive. 

I expect he will be quietly dealt with by the courts and discreetly conveyed to a secure mental hospital. Life will go on. Until next time.