A woman on a tram in Germany suffered life-threatening injuries after she was covered with gasoline and set on fire by an unknown attacker in the small city of Gera.
At around 10 am local time, a 46-year-old woman was approached by an unknown assailant, who poured gasoline over her and set her on fire while on the Gera tram in eastern Thuringia.
Immediately after the woman was set ablaze, fellow passengers pressed the emergency stop button on the tram, police spokeswoman Katja Ridder said per Bild.
However, the attacker could flee the scene because the tram’s emergency stop function also opened all of the train doors.
The tram driver quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and used it to put out the fire engulfing the woman. She received medical attention on the scene before being flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital. She remains in a life-threatening condition.
Thuringian police have launched a major search operation for the suspect in the city of Gera and the surrounding area.
Police are looking for 46-year-old Tengizi Kakiashvili (see photo).
Mr. Kakiashvili is about 180 cm tall, of Georgian origin and dressed in a black work jacket with a blue address. He was also wearing a black cap at the time of the crime. Furthermore, Mr. Kakiashvili and the victim are related to each other. He is her husband.
At the present time, it cannot be ruled out that the wanted man poses a danger to the public. If you come across Mr. Kakiashvili or can provide information about his current whereabouts, please inform the criminal investigation department in Gera (Tel. 0365 / 8234 – 1465) or any other police station immediately. Please do not put yourself in danger!
LPI-G: Ergänzungsmeldung zum versuchten Tötungsdelikt – Öffentlichkeitsfahndung | Presseportal