Young people attacked with a knife at a street party – 16 and 18 year olds in custody

Almost two weeks after a knife attack at the street festival in Dielheim (Rhein-Neckar district) in Baden-Württemberg, two suspects are in custody. A 16-year-old and an 18-year-old Afghan were arrested on Friday, as the Heidelberg public prosecutor's office and the Mannheim police headquarters jointly announced. In the attack on Sunday, September 27th, a 17-year-old was seriously injured and a 19-year-old was slightly injured.

According to the investigation, the 19-year-old German and the 18-year-old Afghan got into an argument around 11 p.m. The 18-year-old is said to have called his 16-year-old compatriot and asked him to arm himself with a knife and come to the playground.

Shortly afterwards, a 17-year-old German became aware of the situation and offered to help. A few minutes later, around 11:10 p.m., the 16-year-old Afghan allegedly arrived at the playground with a knife in his hand and stabbed the 17-year-old in the back without warning.

The injured man fled and the 18-year-old chased him briefly and threatened to kill him, according to the police. The attacked man escaped to a nearby festival tent, where other visitors helped him.

The 16-year-old is also said to have tried to injure another person involved in the argument in the face with the knife. According to the police, this was prevented by a 19-year-old assistant who grabbed the knife and slightly injured her hand. The two suspects then fled.

The 17-year-old was seriously but not life-threateningly injured and was treated in hospital. The investigators assume that the two Afghans decided together to attack the people at the water playground.

The 16-year-old is accused of grievous bodily harm in two separate cases and attempted grievous bodily harm. The public prosecutor's office accuses the 18-year-old of the same crimes as an accomplice, as well as threats. At the request of the public prosecutor, the Heidelberg district court issued arrest warrants against both of them.

A judge ordered pre-trial detention on the same day. The accused were taken to different correctional facilities. With a view to the ongoing investigation and the protection of the young people involved, the authorities did not provide any further information.