Federal authorities in Switzerland announced Friday they are investigating Thursday’s stabbing incident at a Winterthur railway station as a possible act of terrorism, according to the Office of the Attorney General.
The federal prosecutor has initiated criminal charges against the suspected attacker for alleged multiple attempted murder and potential involvement with or support of a terrorist organization.
The Thursday morning assault in Winterthur, located north of Zurich, left three Swiss men wounded. One victim sustained a leg wound, another suffered a neck injury, and the third was stabbed in the thigh. Medical teams transported all three to area hospitals, with one requiring emergency surgical treatment.
Law enforcement apprehended the alleged assailant, identified as a 31-year-old individual holding both Swiss and Turkish citizenship, at the station within minutes of receiving the initial emergency report.
Authorities are currently examining the attacker’s motivations through a comprehensive investigation of the suspect’s history.
Officials stated their “main hypothesis” centers on the incident being suspected terrorism.
Law enforcement revealed Thursday that the suspect had come to police attention in 2015 for allegedly distributing propaganda materials from the extremist organization Islamic State.
A Swiss publication, Blick, reported obtaining footage that appears to show an individual fleeing the station’s main area while shouting “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is greatest” in Arabic. Reuters has not confirmed the authenticity of this video.
Federal prosecutors emphasized Friday that the event demonstrates jihadist-inspired terrorism continues to pose a significant threat within Switzerland.
