A fatal stabbing in a Limpertsberg apartment building on Tuesday afternoon left one woman dead and another seriously injured, prompting a large-scale police operation that led to an arrest.

Whilst the alleged attacker attempted to flee the scene, he was arrested by police in the Bridel–Strassen area. The public prosecutor’s office has requested the opening of a judicial investigation on charges including murder, manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and intentional bodily harm.

Police were alerted via the 113 emergency number at around 2.20pm after reports of two injured women at a building on Avenue de la Faïencerie. According to RTL sources, one victim, confirmed deceased by early evening, was an employee of a real estate agency who was reportedly present for a property viewing. Meanwhile, the Républicain Lorrain reports that the deceased was a resident of the Moselle department in France.

The second victim, a neighbour residing in the building, was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

Following the incident, police launched a search for the assailant. A damaged black car was located on a nearby side street, and a man was apprehended on foot in the Bridel/Kopstal area later that evening. On Tuesday evening, the criminal police also towed a dark Renault Clio with French number plates from the building’s driveway, according to the Luxemburger Wort.

According to an RTL reporter on site, investigators returned to the scene around midday Wednesday, likely to conduct further enquiries and interview potential witnesses.

On Wednesday afternoon, the public prosecutor’s office issued a statement clarifying several details of the case. According to the release, the deceased is a 35-year-old French national. The injured woman is a 36-year-old Luxembourg national.

The suspect, a 27-year-old non-resident, was brought before the examining magistrate on Wednesday, where his questioning is currently ongoing.

Authorities confirmed there is no familial connection between the man and the two victims. The investigation is continuing, with numerous inquiries still in progress, the prosecutor’s office added.

The statement concluded with a reminder to the public to respect both the secrecy of the ongoing investigation and the presumption of innocence.

Further details

Calm had returned to the operations room at police headquarters in Findel by Wednesday. However, just 24 hours earlier, the atmosphere had been palpably tense, as police quickly understood the gravity of the unfolding situation.

Bob Leesch, the Grand Ducal Police’s Director of Operations, said that the first information received indicated that two people had been injured with a knife. “We had to assume serious injuries and prepared accordingly”, he explained.

The first emergency call was received at 2.18pm. Around 20 minutes later, police intercepted the alleged perpetrator as he attempted to escape. According to Leesch, the suspect’s vehicle was located near Biergerkreuz, while patrols had already been deployed further afield to cover possible escape routes. “We were able to stop and arrest the suspect”, he said.

A total of 35 patrols were deployed, alongside judicial police, technical units, and a special intervention unit. The operation continued into the late afternoon as officers sought to rule out the involvement of any additional suspects.