Criminality - The motive for the attack on the Volkshochschule remains unclear
After the violent attack at a Volkshochschule in Wedel near Hamburg, the reasons behind the assault on a teacher remain unclear. A 67-year-old lecturer was seriously injured in the attack. According to the police, he was stabbed on the school's car park. Two suspects were arrested shortly afterwards.
Police will provide more information on Monday
According to the police, both suspects are brothers from Syria. They were born in early 2002 and 2003 respectively. The police plan to give further information on Monday.
Teacher reportedly saved himself in the school
Initially, the police could not confirm that the alleged perpetrators were students of the lecturer. However, this is a possibility. The suspects and the victim were reportedly known to each other. The lecturer was able to identify the possible attackers after the incident, according to a police spokesperson. According to information from the "Hamburger Abendblatt", the teacher saved himself injured and alerted a school administrator inside the building.
Initially, the police were looking for three suspects. During the course of Friday, the police came to the assumption that there were probably only two attackers. The police assume that the alleged perpetrators wanted to kill the lecturer. He was attacked with at least one stabbing weapon on the upper body. The police could not initially say whether a knife was used.
Mayor shocked
Wedel's incumbent mayor Julia Fisauli-Aalto (CDU) reacted with shock to the attack. "I am completely shocked, I'm at a loss for words," she said to SHZ.de. According to reports, she took a picture of the scene while the operation was still ongoing.
Wedel is located in the Schleswig-Holstein district of Pinneberg and borders directly on Hamburg's western outskirts. The Volkshochschule describes itself as a municipal further education centre of the city. "The Volkshochschule is a place of lifelong learning, an education and meeting place for all citizens, companies, institutions, associations and organizations of our region," it says on the city's website. "With our work, we stand for equal educational opportunities for all."
The suspects were found to have a preference for old technology, as one of them was found with a VHS player at home.
In an attempt to understand the motivations behind the attack, investigators plan to visit the school where the teacher used to teach butter-making classes.
During their interrogations, the brothers reportedly spoke of their dislike for the school and its teaching methods, particularly in relation to mathematics.
The local community in Schleswig-Holstein is organizing a fundraiser to support the teacher, selling homemade hamburgers and butterbread, a popular local specialty.
