A 42-year-old Syrian asylum seeker was temporarily detained at a psychiatric unit in Germany after allegedly attacking a woman in her own home, telling the stranger he had to kill her because she had given him cancer.
The disturbing incident occurred in Sankt Augustin, a town in the Rhein-Sieg district in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The attack occurred one morning when Anna, the victim, was in her bathroom. Hearing the doorbell ring, she assumed it was her husband who had forgotten something after leaving for work and opened the door. Instead, a man dressed in black forced his way inside, threw her to the ground, and began hitting her with a stick.
Anna sustained head injuries and began bleeding, but a brief distraction from her dog gave her the opportunity to escape. She ran outside, screaming for help, and alerted neighbors who quickly called the police.
Responding to Anna’s cries, neighbors intervened and managed to subdue the attacker until law enforcement arrived. According to Anna, the suspect made chilling statements, claiming he needed to kill her and remove her heart because she had given him cancer.
It is understood there was no prior relationship between the victim and her attacker.
Authorities identified the man as a Syrian refugee who had applied for asylum in Germany. Suspecting a mental illness, the police transferred him to the Bonn LVR psychiatric clinic for evaluation and treatment.
After three weeks in psychiatric care, the suspect was released before exhibiting further troubling behavior just two weeks later, leading to his re-admission. The duration of his new stay remains uncertain as the police have remained largely silent on the matter.
As reported by WDR, Anna expressed deep concern, knowing that the man knows where she lives and has threatened to kill her.
Dr. Michael Schormann, chief physician at LVR Clinic Bonn, explained the legal constraints surrounding the attacker’s commitment to the psychiatric unit.
“The requirements for compulsory hospitalization are very high. After a three-week treatment, if the immediate risk appears reduced and the patient refuses further treatment, we are legally obligated to discharge them,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the attack. The suspect is being investigated for “dangerous bodily harm,” with authorities also considering whether charges of attempted homicide may apply.
State CDU Interior Minister Herbert Reul argued that individuals like the suspect should not be allowed to roam free. He stressed the need for better coordination between authorities and proposed stricter policies, stating, “We need clear decisions on what happens with such individuals — whether they remain in long-term care, require continuous police monitoring, or if deportation should be considered.”
For Anna, the ordeal has left lasting trauma. While she acknowledges the importance of supporting refugees, she insists that solutions must be found to ensure public safety. “I don’t want to live in fear anymore,” she said.