A 36-year-old Nigerian man, identified as Wisdom .O, faces charges of attempted manslaughter and multiple other crimes after allegedly stabbing three police officers within 16 hours in Karlsruhe, Germany.
The suspect, a resident of an asylum shelter in Soest, North Rhine-Westphalia, had previously lived in Italy before relocating to Germany. His trial commenced on February 3, 2025, with prosecutors alleging he intended to “kill officers on a night train” during the July 2024 incidents.
According to reports, on July 5, 2024, Wisdom received €200 from his sister, which he used to purchase crack cocaine at Karlsruhe Central Station.
After smoking the drug around 12:45 p.m., he allegedly violently grabbed a child’s shoulder. Police intervened to protect the boy, prompting a struggle during which Wisdom bit one officer and caused abrasions to three others. Despite orders to leave, he resisted, leading to his temporary detention.
Thirteen hours later, at 1:50 a.m., Wisdom allegedly boarded a night train without a ticket. When confronted by officers, the situation escalated.
A police spokeswoman stated, “The man put up considerable resistance and repeatedly st@bbed the officers from behind with the blade of a cutter knife.”
One officer sustained wounds to the head, arm, and hand, while another was cut on the leg. Both were hospitalized and deemed unfit for work during recovery.
Despite the severity of the attacks, the public prosecutor’s office released Wisdom, even after police twice sought arrest warrants—both denied for undisclosed reasons.
Hours after his release, at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, he allegedly assaulted another federal officer during a ticket inspection.
“The suspect was brought to the ground and temporarily arrested,” an officer reported, though he was again released.
Four days later, on the basis of a warrant, Wisdom was apprehended in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia.
During his trial, he denied all charges, claiming, “I have not committed any crimes.” Addressing the cutter knife incident, he argued, “I was only trying to clean my fingernails with a knife on the train.”
When questioned about the officers’ injuries, he speculated, “Maybe that happened when they tried to take the blade away from me.”
Authorities highlighted the suspect’s repeated confrontations with law enforcement and his rapid reoffenses post-release. The case has drawn scrutiny over procedural decisions, particularly the rejection of arrest warrants following the initial attacks.
The trial continues as prosecutors seek to hold Wisdom accountable for the alleged assaults, which left multiple officers injured and reignited debates about public safety and judicial oversight in handling violent offenders.
Quotes from the police and the accused remain central to reconstructing the timeline and motives behind the incidents.
