A peaceful January morning in Schöntal Park, Aschaffenburg, turned into a nightmare when a man attacked a group of toddlers, leaving a two-year-old boy and a father dead.
The chilling incident shocked the city and reignited heated debates about immigration and mental health in Germany.
The Deadly Attack Unfolded
The attacker, identified as 28-year-old Enamullah O., approached a kindergarten group of five toddlers and two teachers while playing what prosecutors described as “motivating battle music” from his phone.
Armed with a 30cm kitchen knife, he launched a violent rampage.
Yannis, a two-year-old boy, was stabbed five times, while a 41-year-old father who tried to protect the children was killed with four stab wounds.
Additional victims included a two-year-old Syrian girl, a 72-year-old man, and a teacher who suffered a broken arm.
Witnesses said the teacher had initially suspected something was wrong when the man loudly blared music, but before they could react, the attacker had already begun tearing hats and scarves from the children and stabbing one of them to death.
A History of Violence and Mental Illness
Enamullah O. was already known to police for previous assaults, property damage, and resisting law enforcement.
Court documents revealed he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.
Prosecutors argue his severe mental impairment prevented him from fully understanding the horrific nature of his actions.
During the trial, the suspect appeared groggy and subdued, handcuffed and in foot shackles, frequently yawning—a side effect his lawyer attributed to medication.
Legal Proceedings Underway
O. is now on trial for murder and attempted murder, with six court sessions scheduled until October 30.
Prosecutors are seeking to have him permanently confined to a psychiatric facility rather than a prison.
His defense lawyer, Juergen Vongries, told the court that O. experienced delusions at the time of the attack and has only vague memories of hearing voices, expressing regret without being able to explain his actions.
Failed Deportation and Previous Threats
The court heard that German authorities had attempted and failed to deport O. to Bulgaria, the first EU country he entered, in 2023.
In August 2024, he allegedly threatened another resident at an asylum accommodation in nearby Alzenau with a butcher’s knife, causing minor injuries.
Political Fallout
The attack occurred just a month before national elections and inflamed an already tense debate on migration.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the centre-right Christian Democrats, promised sweeping asylum reforms and stricter border controls.
Merz later relied on support from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to push a non-binding parliamentary resolution calling for tougher immigration and refugee policies.
This move broke a longstanding political taboo in post-World War II Germany, triggering fierce criticism and mass street protests.