Schoolgirl fighting for life and another injured in knife attack after man invades school
One of the children's condition is described as "life-threatening", with the Mayor saying the attack was "incomprehensible".
Two young children have been seriously wounded in a knife attack at a school in the south of Berlin today, with a 38-year-old suspect detained, German police have said. The girls, aged 7 and 8, were airlifted to a hospital, one of them with life-threatening injuries, according to a police statement.
Berlin Police tweeted: "The 39-year-old suspect is said to have injured the two girls with a knife.
"The background is so far unclear. A knife was seized."
Officers had searched the school with other pupils handed into the care of their parents, police added.
The attack took place in the playground of the Protestant School in Berlin's Neukoelln district, principal Thorsen Knauer-Huckauf said.
He said in statement: “The entire school community is deeply affected and shocked."
Mayor Kai Wegner said that he was shocked by what he described as an "incomprehensible deed".
"My thoughts in these difficult hours are with the two wounded girls. I wish them a speedy and good recovery."
Mr Wegner expressed his sympathy to the parents, teachers and fellow pupils of the victims, and said he was in close contact with police about the attack.
Berlin's state education department said authorities do not have any indication that there was a political or religious motive behind the attack.
Pictures taken at the scene showed large numbers of armed police, as well as forensics officers.
Some were shown to be entering the building.
Bezirksamt Neukolln, one of the 12 district authorities of Berlin, tweeted: "Two children were seriously injured in a knife attack at the Evangelische Schule (Mainzer Str.) today. The perpetrator was arrested.
"The Neukölln crisis intervention team is on duty to look after the children and families.
"Our other child psychologists and teams from the youth welfare office are ready to provide acute and, of course, long-term support for the children and their families.
"For now our thoughts are with the two seriously injured children and their families."
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