Swiss Authorities Classify Winterthur Train Station Stabbing as Terrorism, Attacker Shouted 'Allahu Akbar'

Attack at Winterthur station

On the morning of May 28, 2026, a man armed with a blade attacked passengers at the Winterthur train station near Zurich, Switzerland, shortly after 8:30 a.m. local time. Three people, all Swiss nationals aged 28, 43, and 52, were stabbed and taken to hospital. One victim suffered serious injuries, while the other two sustained moderate wounds. The suspect, a 31-year-old Swiss man, was quickly arrested at the scene by police.

Terrorist classification

Zurich cantonal security director Mario Fehr held a press conference later in the day and explicitly labeled the incident a terrorist act.

I particularly emphasize the term 'terrorist attack'.

Marius Weyermann of the Zurich cantonal police added that the motive 'is to be sought in the area of radicalization and extremism.' Swiss President Guy Parmelin reacted on social media, saying he was

shocked by the terrorist attack this morning in Winterthur

. The authorities' rapid classification underscored the seriousness with which they viewed the assault.

Shouts of 'Allahu Akbar' and panic

Several Swiss media outlets, including Blick, reported that the attacker shouted 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) before and during the rampage. One eyewitness described the scene:

I was about 30 meters away and heard a man behind me shout 'Allah Akbar' five or six times.

The witness saw a group of kindergarten children and passersby fleeing in panic. Another video obtained by Blick showed a man running out of the station concourse shouting the phrase while holding a knife. People around him screamed and ran away. Taxi driver Turhan Muslu, 65, said he saw the attacker try to stab a man who defended himself fiercely before security forces overpowered the suspect. Fellow taxi driver Basharat Iqbal expressed his shock, telling AFP,

We want peace.

Suspect's background

Investigations revealed that the 31-year-old suspect held both Swiss and Turkish citizenship and was already known to police. According to ABC Español, the man had previous links to the An Nur mosque, which was closed down a decade ago due to its connections with radical Islamist movements. This prior association reinforced the authorities' assessment of extremist motives. Police have not released the suspect's name, and the investigation continues into his precise motivations and any broader network.

Aftermath and security

Following the attack, police cordons were visible inside and outside the station, but train services were not disrupted, Swiss Federal Railways told AFP. The swift arrest and the absence of further violence limited the incident's scope, but the event has sent shockwaves through Switzerland, a country rarely associated with large-scale terrorist acts. The attack at a busy commuter hub has prompted renewed discussions about radicalization and public safety.