Knife attack at Gymnasium in Schongau: 16-year-old in pre-trial detention

Course of the attack and weapons

According to Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), the perpetrator fired a shot with the pistol, which then misfired. He then attacked the female students with the knife. According to the investigators, the two girls were selected at random. Both were initially still in the hospital.

Classmates administered first aid – "and in doing so probably saved one of the girls' life," as it was said. The 16-year-old was overpowered after the attack by teachers and police officers, as the authorities announced. "The 16-year-old had been overpowered by teachers and police officers," a spokesperson said.

Investigations on suspicion of extremism

The Munich General Prosecutor's Office sees indications of an extremist motive and has handed over the investigations to the Bavarian Central Office for the Combating of Extremism and Terrorism (ZET). "The investigations against the 16-year-old suspect, among other things on suspicion of attempted murder, have therefore been taken over by the Bavarian Central Office for the Combating of Extremism and Terrorism (ZET)," the Munich General Prosecutor's Office explained on Tuesday. The authority did not specify which exact suspicion of extremism is being investigated.

According to media reports, the suspect had written a 19-page manifesto in which he made disparaging remarks about women, Muslims, and homosexuals. "According to media reports, he had written a manifesto in which he made disparaging remarks about women, Muslims, and homosexuals," dpa reported. In addition, he is said to have moved in an internet subculture that security circles refer to as an "attacker fan scene." "In addition, he is said to have moved in an internet subculture that security circles refer to as an 'attacker fan scene'," it was said.

Manifesto and online activities

There, the young Croatian glorified the attacker in Christchurch, New Zealand, "who in 2019 stormed two mosques and killed 51 people." He also glorified the attacker at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the USA, "who in 2012 shot dead twenty children and six adults." The document, which is available to the German Press Agency, is interspersed with insults against several religious communities and population groups. "According to the news agency dpa, the document contains insults against several religious communities and population groups," it was said.

"People from his personal environment, including classmates and teachers, are also insulted therein," dpa reported. Biographical details speak in favor of the suspected perpetrator's authorship, such as the age of the author and details about trouble at school. Investigators are also examining whether the attack was to be broadcast via livestream.

Background and known prior incidents

The 16-year-old was already known to the security authorities. The 16-year-old Croatian was investigated for two incidents from 2025 because, among other things, he is alleged to have threatened classmates and glorified amoklauf (rampage killing) attacks on social networks. Proceedings were underway at the Munich II Prosecutor's Office. "Grounds for detention would not have existed 'at any point' in these investigation proceedings," the authorities said.

The General Prosecutor's Office announced that, with regard to the ongoing investigations, no further information would be provided for the time being. "With regard to the ongoing investigations, no further information would be provided for the time being," a spokesperson said. The 16-year-old Croatian national is in pre-trial detention.

ZDF reported on the incident on July 8, 2026 in "hallo deutschland." The Deutsche Presse-Agentur and Deutschlandfunk picked up the case on July 14, 2026 in their broadcasts and reports. Investigators are now continuing to examine whether it is a politically or ideologically motivated attack.