FILE PHOTO. © Sven Hoppe/Getty Images
A 31-year-old Iraqi man with a history of mental health issues is accused of fatally pushing a 16-year-old Ukrainian girl beneath an oncoming train in Lower Saxony, according to local authorities. The incident occurred on August 11 at a station in Friedland, where the suspect, identified as Muhammad A., reportedly caused a disturbance before being detained.
Officials stated that police arrived after receiving reports of the man’s erratic behavior. Upon their arrival, Muhammad A. allegedly approached officers and gestured toward the victim’s body without acknowledging responsibility. Initially, he was not arrested but later taken into custody hours later for aggressive conduct elsewhere and hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation.
DNA evidence linking Muhammad A. to the victim led to his arrest, though authorities noted uncertainty about his potential sentencing due to his prior diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. The suspect’s asylum application had been denied in December 2022, with deportation orders issued to Lithuania, from which he allegedly entered Germany. After an unsuccessful appeal, he reportedly avoided capture until July 2025, when immigration authorities sought his removal. A Hanover court rejected the request, citing insufficient justification.
Liana K., the victim, was part of a Ukrainian family that arrived in Germany in July 2022. The case has intensified scrutiny over migration policies and mental health protocols, as thousands of Ukrainians have relocated to Germany since the ongoing conflict in their homeland.
The incident underscores complex challenges faced by German authorities in balancing immigration enforcement with public safety concerns.
