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Man Sprays Irritant Gas in Berlin Tram and Eleven Are Lightly Hurt

The case heightens pressure on authorities after several recent irritant-gas attacks on Berlin public transport with the suspect still at large.

Overview

  • Late Friday evening a man boarded tram line 67 in Oberschöneweide, was confronted by other passengers, stepped out before departure and sprayed irritant gas through the open door, police said.
  • Eleven people suffered light injuries, eight were treated at the scene and the others declined care, with victims reported to range in age from their mid-20s to late 30s.
  • Witnesses said the man pushed through passengers, was shoved by a small group and had his cap knocked off before he sprayed the gas and fled.
  • Police have opened an investigation for dangerous bodily harm and reported xenophobic insults, and no suspect has been caught after searches at the scene interrupted tram and road traffic.
  • The tram attack follows a recent spate of irritant-gas incidents on Berlin transit, including a U-Bahn event that injured 26 and a mid-June bus case that injured nine, raising public-safety concerns and scrutiny of transport security.