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Tantan – Swiss police said a knife attack at a train station in the city of Winterthur was an act of terrorism after three people were injured on Thursday morning.
Police arrested a 31-year-old Swiss-Turkish man shortly after the attack, which happened around 6:30 a.m. local time at Winterthur station, north of Zurich.
Authorities said the suspect had previously been reported to police in 2015 for spreading propaganda linked to the Islamic State group (ISIS).
Mario Fehr, security director for the canton of Zurich, called the incident “a vile terrorist act” and commended police officers for stopping the suspect before more people were hurt.
Fehr also commended several civilians for their actions during the attack, including a teacher who reportedly stood in front of her students to protect them.
Zurich cantonal police commander Marius Weyermann said investigators believe the motive was linked to “radicalization and extremism.”
Swiss newspaper Blick reported that video from the scene showed a man shouting “Allahu Akbar,” Arabic for “God is greatest,” while running through the station. The phrase is commonly used by Muslims in everyday religious expressions and prayers, but it has also been used by some extremists before carrying out terrorist attacks.
The three victims were taken to the hospital. Police said one person was stabbed in the leg, another in the neck, and a third in the thigh. One of the victims required emergency surgery. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.
