Friday March 10, 2017
A man wielding an axe injured at least five people on Thursday night at Dusseldorf's central train station before being arrested by authorities, local police have said.
One of the victims is seriously injured and is in hospital.
Earlier, a police spokesman described the moments after the attack, which apparently began on a local train before it pulled into the station.
"German federal police were on the scene very, very quickly and were able to make sure the situation was static and that victims were being looked after," the spokesman said.
He said when police pursued the suspect he jumped from a bridge.
"He injured himself badly and is now being treated in hospital," the spokesman said, before adding that the person had been arrested and the axe seized.
Details about the attacker and any potential motive are not yet known.
Of the five injured victims, two were women, the spokesman said.
Police have not yet re-opened the station. They reportedly saw a second person fleeing the scene of the attack on closed circuit television, but are not sure whether that person was fleeing the attack or if they were an accomplice.
Train services into Dusseldorf station were cancelled or rerouted.