---
title: "German court hears case of Afghan accused of killing man, toddler in knife attack"
description: "The court hearing of an Afghan national accused of killing two people, including a toddler, during a knife attack in a city park began on Thursday, more than eight months after the incident that shocked the nation."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-10-16-german-court-hears-case-of-afghan-accused-of-killing-man-toddler-in-knife-attack/"
published: "2025-10-16T13:40:12"
updated: "2025-10-16T13:40:13"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 243
---

# German court hears case of Afghan accused of killing man, toddler in knife attack

> The court hearing of an Afghan national accused of killing two people, including a toddler, during a knife attack in a city park began on Thursday, more than eight months after the incident that shocked the nation.

By Reuters · Published 16 October 2025, 15:40 SAST · Updated 16 October 2025, 15:40 SAST

## Key points
- In a tragic twist of fate, a mentally ill man’s violent outburst against a kindergarten group not only claimed innocent lives but also sparked a political firestorm, pushing Germany’s leaders to tighten immigration policies faster than you can say "far-right resurgence."
- Enamullah O., a 28-year-old with paranoid schizophrenia, is accused of fatally stabbing a German man and a two-year-old in a kindergarten attack in January.
- Prosecutors argue he was not criminally responsible for his actions due to his mental health condition, leading to a special legal hearing rather than a trial.
- The incident, which injured additional victims, spurred now-Chancellor Friedrich Merz to advocate for stricter migration policies ahead of Germany's federal elections.
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced plans to deport illegal immigrants, reversing previous restrictions, amid rising far-right support linked to migration concerns.

## Content

Prosecutors allege the suspect, identified as Enamullah O. in line with German privacy laws, fatally stabbed a German man and a two-year-old of Moroccan descent in January while attacking a kindergarten group.

The suspect, who was 28 at the time, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and was unable to comprehend the wrongfulness of his actions, according to prosecutors.

The hearing is a special legal procedure rather than a criminal trial, as the suspect is deemed not criminally responsible due to his mental condition. Instead of a prison sentence, the court will consider placement in psychiatric care.

The attack, which also injured another toddler, a teacher and a bystander, occurred a month before Germany's federal election in February. It prompted now-Chancellor Friedrich Merz to launch stricter migration policies and tighten border controls.

It was one of a string of violent attacks in Germany that have raised concerns over migration and fuelled support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is vying for top spot in opinion polls with Merz's conservatives.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced plans to allow deportations of illegal immigrants to Afghanistan and other countries, reversing restrictions on doing so under the previous government.

The suspect's asylum application was turned down and after saying he would voluntarily leave Germany last December he stayedin the country and was kept under treatment.

(Reporting by Tilman Blasshofer, Writing by Kirsti Knolle and Friederike Heine; editing by Matthias Williams, William Maclean and Ed Osmond)