Sixteen-year-old boy arrested after south Germany school attack, Bavarian police say
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after a violent attack at Welfen Gymnasium (Welfen High School) in Schongau, Bavaria (Beieren), southern Germany, leaving two girls seriously injured, according to police.
The incident took place on Wednesday and triggered a major emergency response. Authorities initially reported that several people had been injured, but later confirmed that two girls had suffered serious injuries. Police said their lives are not in danger. The suspect was quickly identified as a 16-year-old boy and taken into custody. Investigators currently believe he acted alone.
Police described the incident as a suspected "rampage" that appeared to have deliberately targeted the school. While early media reports suggested a knife may have been used, officials initially declined to confirm the exact weapon involved. Later reports indicated the suspect was carrying both a knife and a firearm, although investigators have not yet confirmed which weapon caused the girls' injuries.
The attack prompted a large-scale police operation in Schongau, a town of around 12,000 residents located just north of the Alps. Officers urged the public to stay away from the area while specialist units secured the school grounds. A contact center was established at the local fire station to assist worried parents and relatives as emergency crews responded to the scene.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack and have not released further details about the suspect. Bavaria's Interior Minister, Joachim Herrmann, said the teenager had previously received psychiatric treatment. Police stressed there is currently no indication that anyone else was involved, and the investigation remains ongoing as Germany once again confronts concerns over rare but deeply disturbing acts of violence in schools.