During the city festival in Siegen on Saturday, August 31, the mayor, Steffen Meus, addressed a large crowd with a statement that was met with resounding applause. In light of recent events in Solingen and ongoing discussions about crime and knife attacks involving individuals of foreign origin, Meus emphasized the importance of clarity regarding the horrifying incident that occurred on a bus traveling from Neunkirchen to Siegen. He stressed that the situation is not black and white but far more complex, DW reports.
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The incident took place on Friday, August 31, when a woman of German origin, who is believed to have been suffering from mental health issues, attacked passengers on the bus with a knife, injuring six people. Two of the victims remain in critical condition. According to Mayor Meus, the tragedy could have been even more severe if not for the brave actions of three women with migrant backgrounds who stopped the attacker and prevented an even greater disaster.
Albanian Women Prevent a More Severe Tragedy
Deutsche Welle has learned that the women who averted a much larger tragedy on the bus are of Albanian origin. They are A. L., A. K., and B. R. (The full names and photos are known to the Deutsche Welle editorial team but will not be published at this time due to the women’s current condition and the trauma they have experienced). In an interview, B. R. explained what happened. The women were traveling with four children to the city of Siegen for the festival.
"We were on the bus, having a great time, laughing and playing with the children... Suddenly, we heard a scream. I saw that a woman was attacking others with a knife. She tried to attack our children as well... A. L. grabbed the knife with her hand, and together with A. K., they tackled the woman and brought her down. I quickly grabbed the children and rushed them outside... Then I went back into the bus and took a bag from the attacker... We disarmed her and pinned her to the ground. One of us held her arms, another her legs... Eventually, the woman screamed 'Ich ergebe mich' (I surrender)... She sat down on a seat in the bus, and we held her there until the police arrived... The bus was covered in blood everywhere... it was terrifying," B. R. recounted in a phone interview with Deutsche Welle, often pausing and sighing deeply.
Only after exiting the bus did A. L. realize she had a deep wound on her hand from the knife. She and the other injured passengers were immediately taken to the hospital. A. L. has since been released and is recovering, but the shock remains profound.
Treatment by Authorities
B. R. explained that the women were visited by local authorities. The mayor personally thanked them for their bravery and acknowledged that they likely saved many more lives that could have been lost. On Friday night, they were also given psychological support, but fortunately, they have their families close by. However, the fear and anxiety persist. "Every time I close my eyes, those horrific images come back to me," said B. R.