Germany: 13-Year-Old Jihadist Stabs Nurse in Psychiatric Hospital

On August 16, a 13-year-old female patient in a psychiatric hospital in Paderborn, Germany, stabbed a nurse with a sharp object, seriously injuring her. Police believed the motive was Islamist-inspired and that the girl had been radicalized online and was planning to attack a police officer. She was already under 24-hour monitoring by a security company hired by the clinic.The below article in BILD is translated by Fousesquawk.

Malicious attack in a psychiatric hospital

Suspected Islamist (13) stabs nurse

Caption: The attack took place in the LWL- Clinic in Paderborn. The girl was monitored around the clock.

By Charlotte Mahncke and Mandy Kynast

August 16, 2025-22:02

Paderborn (North Rhine-Westphalia) A brutal attack in the psychiatric clinic in Paderborn. A 13-year-old patient allegedly critically injured a 24-year-old nurse on Saturday, around noon, with a sharp object. The girl is reportedly a highly dangerous Islamist.

According to police, the bloody crime took place around 11:50 while cooking was in progress in the clinic’s kitchen. After receiving first aid, the caregiver was taken to a hospital. The police have instituted an (attempted) murder investigation. Due to the age of the suspect, measures such as pre-trial detention are legally ruled out (because) at the age of 13, the girl is a minor.

The 13-year-old allegedly planned the attack.

The German youth was at the facility due to a court custody order. She is currently under police guard. Particularly striking: According to the authorities, the 13-year-old is classified as a danger to others. Therefore, she was under round-the-clock monitoring by a security agency.

Caption: The girl (13) was initially placed in a shelter by the Youth (Welfare) Office. After she ran away, she was placed in a clinic. 

BILD reported in June that the girl was placed in a shelter provided by the Youth Welfare Office and was monitored by police around the clock. State Security suspected at that time that the minor was preparing an Islamist-motivated attack. According to security circles, evidence of her views was considered “concrete”. Her plan was allegedly to injure and possibly even kill police officers.

During an attempt to escape at the end of June, she allegedly tried to attack an officer with a glass shard. Thanks to a foot monitor bracelet, she was quickly located and taken into custody. After the incident, she was housed in the LWL-Clinic in Paderborn (NRW). It is not clear why she was allowed into the kitchen there on Saturday with access to sharp objects.

Police officers supposed to prevent flight

“On the clinic’s premises, there was monitoring by a security service under the responsibility of the clinic’s owner,” police explained on Saturday. “There were off-site forces deployed, able to intervene in case of an attempted flight.“ 

According to BILD, the 13-year-old was reportedly radicalized previously on the Internet. She has had a difficult childhood; her mother reportedly has died. Whether the attack on the nurse was politically motivated is the object of ongoing investigation, it was stated. Authorities give assurances that there is no danger to the public.