'No indication' Swiss train attack was terrorist act: police

Image
AFP Geneva
Last Updated : Aug 14 2016 | 5:22 PM IST
Swiss police said today there was so far no indication that an attacker's knife rampage on a train, which killed one woman and injured five passengers, was an act of terror.
"The question of motive remains," police from Switzerland's eastern Saint Gallen region said in a statement, stressing: "To date there is no indication this was a terrorist or politically motivated act."
Police spokesman Bruno Metzger told AFP "terrorism is not our main theory" for yesterday afternoon's attack and that "other motives" figured far higher on the list, although he would not say what they were.
A 27-year-old Swiss national used flammable liquid to start a fire on a moving train in eastern Switzerland before stabbing passengers, according to police.
The attack took place at around 2:20 pm (1220 GMT) near Salez station on a train running between Buchs and Sennwald near Switzerland's eastern border with Liechtenstein and Austria.
Police said the attack had been caught on video, allowing them to determine that the man had acted alone.
The victims included two men aged 17 and 50, three women aged 17, 34 and 43 and a six-year-old girl. Dozens of people were on the train at the time of the attack, police said.
Regional police in Switzerland's eastern canton of Saint Gallen said a 34-year-old woman who had been in critical condition since the attack had died of her injuries today morning.
Metzger said the attacker, who is not of immigrant origin and does not have a criminal record, remained in critical condition.
A person who had been on the platform at Salez station was also hurt after rushing in to pull out the attacker -- who was on fire -- out of the train, police said.
"His intervention probably prevented worst," police spokesman Hanspeter Kruesi told the Blick daily, suggesting that more passengers might have been injured.
Metzger said police for the time being would not provide more details on the identities or nationalities of the victims.
Late yesterday, police had searched the home of the suspected attacker, who lives in a canton neighbouring Saint Gallen.
"The results are part of a criminal proceeding and are therefore not public," the police statement said.
Some 90 rescue workers had taken part in yesterday's operation, including police, firefighters, ambulances and three rescue helicopters, police said.
Saint Gallen prosecutors, who have opened a criminal investigation into the attack, have secured the affected carriage, which is being scrutinised by forensics teams.

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Aug 14 2016 | 5:22 PM IST

Next Story