A man wielding a knife attacked people inside a train station in a northern Swiss city, injuring three individuals before police apprehended the suspect. Authorities are currently investigating the motive for the attack.
On 29 May 2026, a man attacked people with a knife at the Winterthur train station near Zurich in northern Switzerland, injuring three individuals before police arrested the suspect at the scene.
Police stated that the suspect is a 31-year-old Swiss man armed with a knife. The three injured victims, all Swiss nationals aged 28, 43, and 52, were taken to hospital for treatment. The 52-year-old suffered a stab wound to the thigh requiring emergency surgery, while the other two sustained injuries to their legs and neck. Some have reportedly since been discharged from hospital.
Mario Fehr, Zurich's head of security, said that evidence at the scene suggests the motive may be linked to extremist ideology and incitement to violence. Police revealed the suspect has been under close watch since 2015 due to involvement in disseminating propaganda for the Islamic State group (ISIS).
Police noted that just days before the attack, the man had voluntarily visited police but spoke incoherently and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Subsequent medical evaluation determined he did not pose a danger to himself or others.
Local witnesses reported hearing screams throughout the area as people fled through the underpass beneath the train station. The assailant wielded a knife indiscriminately attacking people. Local media reported that a group of schoolchildren passed by during the incident, and a teacher stepped in to shield the children from the violence.
Swiss President Guy Parmelin posted a message expressing shock at the attack and said the incident was deeply distressing. Authorities are actively investigating to determine the exact motive behind the attack.