The incident occurred near Theresienwiese, and while both victims sustained only minor injuries, the exact motive behind the attacks remains unknown.
Victims Treated for Minor Injuries
The first victim, a 56-year-old man, told reporters he was attacked by his neighbor, who appeared to be suffering from mental health issues. He recounted that she rang his doorbell and struck him in the chest. Only when he saw blood did he realize she was holding a knife. He quickly shut the door and called emergency services. A second victim, a 25-year-old woman, was attacked shortly afterward. Neither required hospitalization.
Woman Shot During Arrest
According to police, the woman attacked the man near Westendstraße, then the younger woman at Schwanthalerhöhe, before heading toward St.-Pauls-Platz at Theresienwiese. Officers confronted her there and attempted to arrest her. As she continued to wield the knife, police opened fire. The number of shots fired and the precise circumstances of the shooting have not yet been disclosed. The woman succumbed to her injuries later at a hospital.
Suspect Identified, Motive Remains Unclear
The attacker was identified as a 30-year-old Bulgarian national who lived near the scene. She had no prior record of violence. While her motive remains unknown, several reports suggest she may have had psychological issues. Investigators have yet to determine whether she had a personal connection to the victims.
Police and State Response
Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann praised the police for their rapid response, saying the officers acted to end a potentially deadly threat. “Her death is tragic, but probably unavoidable,” Herrmann stated.
The shooting triggered a standard internal investigation. The case has been handed over to the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), and Munich’s Homicide Division is leading the inquiry into the attacks.
Emergency Response and Public Safety
Police emphasized that there was no ongoing threat to public safety. After the incident, the area around Bavariaring and St.-Pauls-Platz was secured and remains under investigation. Officers are reviewing surveillance footage and gathering eyewitness accounts.
Comparison to Recent Hamburg Attack
The incident has drawn comparisons to a knife attack at Hamburg’s central station just two weeks earlier, where a 39-year-old woman with a psychiatric condition injured 18 people. As in the Munich case, mental health appears to be a contributing factor, though no final conclusions have been drawn.
The Munich police continue to investigate the chain of events and the background of the suspect in detail. More information is expected as the investigation progresses.
(With material from dpa)
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