A German court has ordered a 21-year-old Syrian man to be placed in a psychiatric clinic after finding him not criminally responsible for an axe and hammer attack aboard a high-speed ICE train in Bavaria last year. The regional court in Regensburg handed down the ruling on Sunday, citing schizophrenia the man developed during a three-year journey to Europe as an unaccompanied minor.
The presiding judge found the defendant guilty of attempted manslaughter and dangerous bodily harm stemming from the July 3, 2025 assault near Straßkirchen, west of Deggendorf, in which two passengers suffered serious injuries. The court determined the attack was not politically motivated but noted a significant risk of reoffending.
The defendant apologised to one of the victims during proceedings. The ruling is not yet final.