Following an attack with a sharp object on Sunday morning in front of a bar in Bielefeld that left several people injured, police in the German city continued their search for the perpetrator, who is presumably still armed and at large.
According to police, the knifeman — so far identified as a 35-year-old Syrian living in Germany — approached a group of local football fans celebrating in the city centre around 4:20 am.
He then injured several people with a "sharp object". At least five people were injured, three of them seriously, authorities said.
According to witnesses, the perpetrator attacked his victims indiscriminately with a bladed object. Footage from the crime scene shows forensics securing a weapon - a walking cane with a retractable blade.
Other guests overpowered the attacker and inflicted facial injuries in the process. Nevertheless, he managed to break away and flee on foot, leaving a rucksack at the crime scene.
Investigators from the "Kurfürst" homicide squad, led by First Chief Inspector Markus Mertens, recovered the rucksack from the area around the crime scene. According to a statement from the authorities, it contained further knives.
The police are currently categorising the attack as a premeditated assault.
The police have asked for information on their info portal and for people to keep their distance from the perpetrator if they see him, as he could still be armed. A homicide squad has been put in charge of the investigation, authorities said.
