Germany: A Muslim migrant carrying a Palestinian flag injures 31 individuals in a series of arson and ramming incidents

Image: Jihad Watch

A 41-year-old Syrian national injured 31 people, including two children in critical condition, in arson attacks on Saturday in Essen, Germany, according to police and media reports from Sunday morning.

At approximately 5:10 p.m. on Saturday, the man set fire to a residential building on Altenessener Strasse, at the corner of Pielsticker Strasse, as reported by Bild. He then drove a short distance and set fire to another residence.

The fire service reported that 31 people were injured in the attacks, while Essen police put the number at 30.

According to Tagesschau, residents threw children out of windows onto cushions in the street to escape the flames. Following the arson attacks, the man drove to Katernberger Strasse, where he rammed his car into a store, reversed, and rammed it again.

The attacker then continued to another shop on Katernberger Strasse, where he brandished a machete and threatened people. Bystanders threw objects to keep him away, and this part of the incident was captured on video.

Sources told Bild that the man was arrested, with burns on his hands, a few meters from the store. Tagesschau reported that he was already known to the police. “The crime police have taken over the investigation and are examining the connections between the incidents. The specific motives of the arrested man are also the subject of the investigation,” Essen police stated.

Screenshots from videos shared by multiple German media outlets appeared to show the man wearing a Palestinian flag and a Keffiyeh-patterned headband.