An Afghan man, identified as 28-year-old Enamullah O., is set to stand trial for a stabbing attack in Aschaffenburg, Germany, that killed a two-year-old toddler named Yannis and a 41-year-old man who tried to protect a group of toddlers. The January 22 attack also left three others wounded, including children and teachers.
Authorities say Enamullah O. has a history of mental illness, and expert evaluations suggest he is not criminally responsible due to his psychiatric state. Prosecutors confirmed there was no evidence of extremist or terrorist motives and are seeking his permanent confinement in a psychiatric facility.
The attack occurred while five toddlers were sitting in a wooden cart, supervised by two teachers, in a park. The assailant used a kitchen knife to attack the group. He was arrested at the scene, with past attempts in 2023 to deport him to Bulgaria having failed.
In August 2024, he reportedly threatened another resident in an asylum seeker accommodation with a butcher’s knife, causing minor injuries.
The stabbings triggered strong political reactions in Germany. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democrats and future chancellor, promised a major overhaul of asylum policies and stricter border controls if elected. He later broke political norms by relying on far-right party AfD to pass a resolution demanding tighter immigration laws, sparking widespread protests.
