German police investigate fatal stabbing of woman in Ratzeburg supermarket

Attack at the Ratzeburg supermarket

A 48-year-old woman died on Wednesday afternoon after being assaulted with a knife inside a Lidl supermarket in Ratzeburg, located in the Herzogtum Lauenburg district south of Lübeck. The violent encounter took place at approximately 15:35 on 9 September 2026. The victim, a local resident from the Herzogtum Lauenburg district, was standing between the store shelves when a 44-year-old German man launched an unprovoked attack. The assailant struck her multiple times, inflicting fatal stab and cut wounds. Despite the swift arrival of paramedics and emergency teams, the woman died at the scene from her injuries. Approximately 20 shoppers were inside the discounter opposite the town railway station when the attack unfolded, leading to multiple emergency calls starting at 15:40.

Witness intervention and suspect injuries

Three customers inside the store stepped in immediately after witnessing the assault, attempting to restrain the attacker and prevent further violence against other shoppers. As the three bystanders moved in to secure him, the 44-year-old man resisted their efforts and turned the weapon against himself, sustaining severe knife injuries in the process. The witnesses successfully disarmed the attacker and held him on the ground until police officers arrived at the premises. Law enforcement placed the German national under arrest before medical personnel transported him under police supervision to the Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein in Lübeck for treatment.

There is currently no danger to the public.

Investigation into suspect and motive

The public prosecutor's office in Lübeck initiated a formal investigation against the 44-year-old suspect on suspicion of manslaughter. Preliminary findings released by the police and public prosecutors indicate that the attacker and the 48-year-old victim did not know each other prior to the incident. Authorities stated that there is no evidence pointing toward any political or religious motivation behind the stabbing. Investigators are examining whether the suspect was in an acute psychological state during the attack, while background inquiries into the circumstances of the crime remain underway.

Evidence collection and police response

The incident prompted a substantial emergency response across the area surrounding the supermarket. Law enforcement temporarily cordoned off a wide security perimeter around the store and the adjacent Ratzeburg railway station. Homicide detectives from the Mordkommission and forensic specialists from the Spurensicherung arrived on Wednesday evening to inspect the crime scene, secure blood traces, and gather physical evidence. Support staff and pastoral counselors were deployed to provide psychological assistance to witnesses and store customers who were present during the stabbing. In addition, police established a public upload portal enabling witnesses to submit statements, mobile phone photos, and video footage directly to investigators.