Horror as 15 people are attacked by 17-year-old Afghan refugee wielding an AXE and shouting 'Allahu Akbar' in German train rampage before police shot him dead as he fled the scene
Attacker went on the rampage on a train near Wurzburg targeting 15 people
Three critically injured after an attack with 'cutting and stabbing weapons'
A 17-year-old Afghan refugee has since been shot dead by armed police
He shouted 'Allahu Akbar' in what was 'probably' an Islamist attack, official says
MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 21:02 GMT, 18 July 2016 | UPDATED: 23:12 GMT, 18 July 2016
A teenage Afghan refugee shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before hacking at passengers during an axe and knife rampage on a train in Germany.
The 17-year-old was gunned down by armed police after fleeing from the scene near the city of Wurzburg, 70 miles north of Nuremberg in southern Germany.
As many as 19 passengers needed hospital treatment while three victims are fighting for their lives after being attacked with 'cutting and stabbing weapons'. Officials have said it was 'probably' an Islamist attack.
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A 17-year-old Afghan refugee has attacked more than 15 people with an axe and a knife after going on the rampage on a train in Germany. He was later shot dead by police
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Investigation: Police stand by the regional train on which a teenager wielding an axe attacked passengers
Axe-wielding man injures at least 21 in train attack in German
The gruesome onslaught started on the train from Treuchtlingen to Würzburg as the service stopped at Würzburg-Heidingsfeld.
As well as the three critically injured victims, one other passenger is believed to have non life-threatening injuries while 14 others suffered minor injuries or shock.
Joachim Herrmann, the interior minister of Bavaria state, said the perpetrator was a 17-year-old Afghan who had lived in nearby Ochsenfurt.
'It is quite probable that this was an Islamist attack,' said a ministry spokesman, adding that the attacker had shouted 'Allahu akbar' (God is greatest).
A police spokesman added: 'Shortly after arriving at Wuerzburg, a man attacked passengers with an axe and a knife.
'Three people have been seriously injured and several others lightly injured.'
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Train services have come to a halt between Wurzburg-Heidingsfeld and Ochsenfurt
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The rampage onslaught started on the 9pm train from Treuchtlingen to Würzburg as it stopped at Würzburg-Heidingsfeld
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The Bavarian interior ministry confirmed that police had shot and killed the attacker and a special task force has been dispatched from Wurzburg
He added: 'The perpetrator was able to leave the train, police left in pursuit and as part of this pursuit, they shot the attacker and killed him.'
There were no further details on the circumstances of the teenager's death, and police declined to suggest what the motive was for the attack.
'At this time everything is possible,' the spokesman said.
Train services have come to a halt between Wurzburg-Heidingsfeld and Ochsenfurt and a police helicopter is circling the area.
Authorities have said the attacker entered Germany as an unaccompanied child refugee.
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The train line near the city of Wurzburg in southern Germany has been closed and police have descended on the scene
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The teenager was eventually shot dead by police after he tried to attack them with a 'knife or hatchet'
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Joachim Herrmann, the interior minister of Bavaria state, said the attacker was a 17-year-old Afghan who had lived in nearby Ochsenfurt
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Police, fire and ambulance crews were all dispatched to the scene of the axe attack this evening
Local media report that he had lived with a German foster family for two weeks having previously lived in a refugee camp.
The Bavarian interior ministry confirmed that police had shot and killed the attacker and a special task force has been dispatched from Wurzburg. Police believe the attacker worked alone.
In May, a mentally-unstable 27-year-old man carried out a similar knife attack on a regional train in the south, killing one person and injuring three others.
Early reports suggested he had yelled 'Allahu akbar' but police later said there was no evidence pointing to a religious motive. He is being held in a psychiatric hospital.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3696410/Man-attacks-21-people-AXE-train-Germany-shot-police.html#ixzz4EoNQJg94
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