A wave of violence swept through Essen, Germany on Saturday, when a machete-wielding assailant set two residential buildings ablaze and rammed a commercial vehicle into local businesses, resulting in a total of 31 injuries, including eight children who were critically wounded.
The sequence of events unfolded around 5:10 p.m. when emergency services were inundated with calls about a fire on Fillstrasse. The situation quickly escalated as flames engulfed a second nearby apartment building.
In interviews with local media, a fire department spokesperson described women and children screaming for help from smoke-filled windows.
In the aftermath of the fires, a commercial vehicle plowed into two shops on adjacent streets, causing significant damage but avoiding additional casualties. Law enforcement swiftly apprehended a suspect in the vicinity—a 41-year-old Essen resident with Syrian citizenship.
Reports indicate that officers discovered a knife and machete in his possession. Social media platforms have been flooded with videos purportedly showing the suspect brandishing a machete and wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh and flag.
Essen Police’s Criminal Investigation Department has launched a comprehensive probe into the incident. Investigators are working to unravel the connections between the various attacks and determine the motives driving the violent rampage.
Originally published by Israel Hayom.
