Story By: Kathryn Quinn, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

These are the first CCTV images allegedly showing the man accused of pushing an eight-year-old German child under a train in Frankfurt as he tries to run away after the incident.

The forty-year-old man, who has not been named but is originally from Eritrea, has been arrested over the attack, but has yet to speak out about a possible motive for the crime, which occurred yesterday (Monday) and made headlines around the world.

Witnesses described how the man pushed the boy and his mother deliberately onto train tracks at Frankfurt Station located in Frankfurt, a metropolis and the largest city of the German federal state of Hesse, before running away, and also trying to push a third person onto the tracks.

Pictures Credit: CEN/ screenshot Bild

The man was caught as passengers including an off-duty cop chased after him and held onto him until the police arrived. According to Bild, these images show the man fleeing the scene after the incident.

Whilst the mother, 40, survived the incident after she was able to roll away from the tracks the boy could not be saved and died at the scene.

In the meantime, it has emerged that the suspect is himself a father of three children who lived in Switzerland.

Public Prosecutor Nadja Niesen confirmed the suspect is a married man who himself has three children.

He reportedly told prosecutors that he had “taken the train from Basel, Switzerland to Germany” but has not said anything else yet.

A 78-year-old woman was also injured by the man on the shoulder as he allegedly tried to push her onto the tracks, but failed.

Police in Zurich confirmed that the man was living in Switzerland and was from Eritrea originally.

Flowers, teddy bears and tributes have been left on the platform in Frankfurt in memory of the boy.

Local resident Erk, 66, told reporters: “I have a terrible feeling and at the moment have to travel by train every day. It is unbelievable how somebody can do this to a small child. Usually you look after children. What did this child ever do to him? I really cannot understand this.”

While Nazire, 27, from Frankfurt said: “I am shaking just thinking about what happened yesterday. This act of inhumanity takes my breath away. I take the train every day. This morning I kept looking behind me and at the platform, everyone seemed to be standing against the wall. How could somebody do this to such an innocent child? I really feel for the whole family and hope they can get over their pain.”

The man faces one charge of murder as well as two charges of attempted murder.

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