Court orders intensive care for man who hacked a toddler to death
By Reuters, October 30, 2025A German judge ordered an Afghan national to be sent into psychiatric care after he fatally stabbed two people, including a toddler, nine months ago in an attack that shocked the country.
Prosecutors had argued that the man, identified as Enamullah O. in line with German privacy laws, killed a German man and a two-year-old in January as he attacked a kindergarten group in the western city of Aschaffenburg.
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The man, who was 28 at the time, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and the hearing was a special legal procedure rather than a criminal trial, as he was deemed not criminally responsible due to his mental condition.
A court spokesperson confirmed the ruling that he be taken into psychiatric care.
The attack took place a month before Germany’s federal election in February and contributed to a decision by now-Chancellor Friedrich Merz to introduce stricter migration policies and tighten border controls.
It was one of a string of violent attacks which raised concerns over migration and fuelled support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is topping some opinion polls.
Past Court hearing
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 October 16,2025, more than eight months after the incident that shocked the nation.
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.