Large-scale operation for the police and rescue workers in Hamm: A man attacked several people with a knife at the Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences. There are injuries – and an arrest.

A man injured a man and three women with a knife at the Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences (HSHL) in Hamm. This was announced by the police in the Westphalian city on Friday. A suspect has been arrested, officials said. The police described the situation on site as “safe” in the evening. According to the investigators, there are no indications of another perpetrator or a political motive.

The RTL television station reported that two of those attacked were seriously injured. A woman who was taken to the hospital by rescue helicopter required emergency surgery. She was in acute danger of life, it was said in the evening. A police spokesman told Radio Lippewelle Hamm that the injured were HSHL students. According to the police, the arrested person is a 34-year-old who lives in a student residence. The apartment was searched in the evening. According to a spokesman for the Dortmund public prosecutor’s office, there are indications that the man suffers from a mental illness. He is due to be examined by a doctor on Saturday.

Students overwhelmed Hamm’s stabber

Rescue workers and the police had come to the university campus in large numbers during the day. Special units were also deployed.

The “Westfälische Anzeiger” reported on the course of the crime, citing the police, that the 34-year-old had rushed up the university building around 3:30 p.m. and apparently stabbed himself indiscriminately. He was then overpowered by students in a lecture hall and then handed over to the police. A number of students were eyewitnesses to the crimes. They were offered pastoral care.

“We are deeply shocked by today’s events on our campus in Hamm. Our thoughts are with the injured, those affected and their families. We thank the students who courageously opposed the attacker and the police and rescue services for the quick intervention.” , according to the university management in a first statement.

The Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences has existed at the two locations Hamm and Lippstadt since 2009. The campus in the 180,000-resident city of Hamm is in the east of the city. The university currently has 5,600 students at both locations.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated several times since it was first published.

Sources: Hamm Police Headquarters, RTL, Radio Lippewelle Hamm, “Westfälischer Anzeiger”, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, DPA and AFP news agencies