A 72-year-old man attacked three women with a knife in a nursing home in Germany

An 86-year-old woman was killed and two other women, aged 81 and 83, were seriously injured in a knife attack carried out on Friday evening at a nursing home in Olfen, a town in western Germany near Dortmund. One of the victims is in critical, life-threatening condition.

The attacker is a 72-year-old man who lived at the same care facility. According to police, he stabbed the 86-year-old woman in the dining room. The victim died at the scene. The man subsequently attacked other people at the nursing home.

Police arrested him without resistance. Authorities have opened a homicide investigation to establish the motive for the attack and its exact circumstances.

The incident reportedly took place at the St Vitus-Stift center, where 77 elderly people in need of care due to health problems lived. The complex also includes 36 apartments for people with dementia who receive external support. The center is operated by the municipality of Olfen. Two helicopters landed in front of the building during the emergency services' response.