A MAN SET a train carriage in Switzerland on fire today using a flammable liquid and stabbed passengers, injuring six people, including a six-year-old child, police said.

The  27-year-old attacker and Swiss citizen was armed with at least one knife, police said.

Seven people have been admitted to various hospitals with undetermined fire and stab wounds.

“According to the information we have for the time being, the 27-year-old Swiss man poured out a flammable liquid … (which) caught fire,” police said.

In addition to the injured young child, a 17-year-old, a 50-year-old man and three women aged 17, 34 and 43 years are believed to be injured.

The attacker was also injured in the incident, regional police in St Gallen said in a statement.
St.Gallen Canton firefighters, three rescue helicopters, two emergency physicians, three ambulances and experts from the railway companies are currently at the scene.

The attack happened on a train travelling in Switzerland’s far east, along its border with Liechtenstein.

The train was travelling between Buchs and Sennwald at 2.20pm local time, around 1.20pm Irish time. The incident happened just before it reached Salez Station.

The prosecutor of the Canton of St.Gallen has opened a criminal investigation.

Police said the motive for the attack is unknown.

With reporting by Christina Finn 

More to follow…