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‘No evidence’ Munich attacker linked to terrorism

A bunch of flowers lays on the floor at Grafing railway station after a deadly knife attack on May 10, 2016 in Grafing, Bavaria.

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The man is in custody and authorities are working to identify him.

One man has been killed and three others wounded by a knife-wielding man near Munich, with police investigating a possible Islamist connection.

Grafing Mayor Angelika Obermayr said that “something like this is absolutely new and shakes people deeply – otherwise, they only know this kind of thing from television”.

Koehler said investigators will follow up on statements the suspect made in questioning to determine whether he might have converted to Islam.

A spokesperson for the state prosecutor’s office confirmed the attack was believed to have an “Islamist background”.

He added that the man “expressed political motivations”, but would not provide any more information, citing the ongoing investigation.

“But that this could happen right here, that is absolutely unthinkable”, she said.

Heidenreich said one of the survivors had “serious injuries”, but that he had no details on whether they were thought to be life-threatening.

The attack took place at about 5 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) at the train station at Grafing, a commuter town about 32 km (20 miles) southeast of the Bavarian capital in southern Germany.

Prosecutors allege the girl, who was overpowered by another officer, was acting in the name of ISIS.

Witnesses report the attacker was barefoot.

The authorities responded swiftly to calls for help, and the man was arrested shortly after carrying out the attacks.

More than 800 home-grown radicals have left Germany to join jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq and about 260 have returned.

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Police in Germany have stepped up raids against suspected Islamist militants following November’s attacks in Paris and bombings in Brussels in March – both linked to the Islamic State.

One man dead after attacker heard shouting 'Allahu Akbar' knifes Munich rail passengers