- 21-year-old man admitted to psychiatric hospital after a hammer attack
Following an attack on a police officer with a hammer at the train station in Mönchengladbach at the end of July, the suspected assailant has been admitted to a closed psychiatric ward. A judge ordered this, the Mönchengladbach police announced. An evaluation found that the 21-year-old may have been in a state of acute mental confusion due to illness.
The man allegedly approached three police officers from behind and suddenly swung the hammer towards the head of an officer who was just able to dodge. Another blow lightly injured a federal police officer in the upper body.
The 21-year-old was overpowered but collapsed several times and was taken to a psychiatric clinic by doctors and the local authority. A judge at Mönchengladbach District Court confirmed the detention in a closed psychiatric forensic facility due to the potential high risk posed by the 21-year-old.
Whether the 21-year-old committed the alleged crime in a state of diminished responsibility will be investigated in the ongoing criminal proceedings, the police said. The 21-year-old is accused of attempted murder. A drug and alcohol test after his arrest was negative.
The incident occurred at the Railway station in Mönchengladbach, where the assault took place. Subsequently, the 21-year-old was transferred to a specific psychiatric ward within the hospital system.
