Germany: 4 Syrian Suspects in Brutal Stabbing of Teacher Already Released

After a teacher was stabbed in an adult education center in Wedel near the city of Hamburg, the four brothers — all from Syria, have already been released from police custody. The teacher is still fighting for his life after being seriously injured in the attack.

The Syrians are aged 17, 19, and 21, and allegedly targeted the teacher, with one of the twin 21-year-olds stabbing the man in the face and neck.

Despite the brutal nature of the incident, a spokeswoman from the Itzehoe police department said there were no grounds to keep them in custody even if they remain at the center of the investigation, according to German newspaper Welt.

“The four are still suspected of the crime, but the suspicion is currently not sufficient to issue an arrest warrant against them,” said police spokeswoman Merle Neufeld.

On Friday afternoon, the 67-year-old music teacher from Tornesch was stabbed, allegedly by two Syrians. With the last bit of strength, the victim was able to flee out of the building while bleeding profusely. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and the spokeswoman refused to comment on the relationship of the attackers and the victim, besides saying: “They must have known each other.”

The four Syrian brothers were arrested after the attack, but the police spokeswoman refused to state whether the men were students of the teacher.

Wedel’s mayor, Julia Fisauli-Aalto, of the Christian Democrats (CDU), stated. “I am deeply shaken and shocked that such an act has happened in our small town,” she said, adding that her thoughts and deep sympathy are with the injured man and his family.