Unclear Motives Behind Wolmirstedt Assaults
Here's an informal, paraphrased version of the given text:
It's EURO tournament kick-off night, and a 27-year-old Afghan goes on a rampage in Wolmirstedt, Germany. He previously injured a fellow country-man fatally in another housing estate. The cops take him down after he attacks a group of people at a EURO party.
The festive mood in Germany for the EURO opener clashes with the chaotic events unfolding in Wolmirstedt. A 27-year-old Afghan storms into a residential property, wreaking havoc with a knife. The police intervene and shoot him when he attacks them, too. Turns out, he'd hurt another guy earlier in a different housing project, and the victim died from his wounds that same night.
The partygoers were enjoying the Germany vs Scotland match outdoors when the attack happens, just after the kick-off around 9 pm. A 50-year-old and a 75-year-old sustain serious injuries, while a 56-year-old man has only minor injuries.
No clear motive
The police recover two knives, one found near each crime scene, but they can't pinpoint the reason behind the attacker's actions two days later. Neither religious nor terrorist ties are suspected by the police.
Initial reports suggest a woman called the police around 9 pm, reporting a man in black clothing running through the city and acting suspiciously. The man was reportedly shouting at people and cars, possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The party could have attracted him due to the lively atmosphere.
According to police reports, the man broke into a single-family house's private property soon after the kick-off and started attacking the 16 guests. As of Sunday, both injured victims were not in critical condition, and two had already been discharged from the hospital.
Recent immigrant
The attacker had arrived in Germany at the end of 2022 and applied for asylum in 2023. No major criminal activities or suspicious behavior were attributed to him. He was staying in a communal accommodation in Stendal, and a fraud investigation against him was dropped. Police were investigating him for unauthorized entry. No prior incidents or proceedings related to the man were reported before the attack.
The neighbors in the supposedly peaceful residential estate were traumatized by the incident. "We're still quite shaken up," said a couple who were watching the soccer match when they heard gunshots. Thinking someone had fired a firecracker, they looked out the window and saw an ambulance and a man beside the entrance.
The nearby housing estate was also shocked the following morning. A woman discussing the incident with neighbors revealed her grandson was among the officers involved in the incident. "I'm getting goosebumps one after the other," she said. Another woman described the situation as "awful."
Saxony-Anhalt's Interior Minister, Tamara Zieschang, expressed her shock at the unforeseen and tragic attack. "My thoughts are with the victims and all those affected, who suffered both physical and psychological harm," she said. She referred to a temporary increased police presence and ongoing comprehensive investigations.
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The investigation into the assaults in Wolmirstedt, attributed to a recent refugee from Afghanistan, is being handled by the International Police. Despite recovering two knives at the crime scenes, no clear motive behind the murder and manslaughter has been established, neither implying religious nor terrorist ties.
The attacker, a resident of Saxony-Anhalt, seemingly chose Wolmirstedt as his prime location for committing these crimes, as reported incidents of suspicious behavior were identified in the days leading up to the assault, which took place amidst the EURO party excitement.
