Police search for motive after teacher stabbed in northern Germany

Police in the northern German town of Wedel, near Hamburg, are continuing to search for a motive after a teacher was stabbed outside an adult education centre on Friday.

A police spokesman told dpa that a 67-year-old man was critically injured in the attack, which took place in the centre's car park.

Two suspects were arrested on the grounds of the centre after a short manhunt. Authorities said the pair are brothers from Syria aged in their early 20s.

The background to the offence is still unclear, but it is being assumed that the victim and perpetrators knew each other, as the teacher was reportedly able to identify his attackers.

The police spokesman would not confirm or deny the possibility that the suspects were students at the centre.

The Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper reported that the teacher managed to get back inside the centre after the attack. An administrative staff member then raised the alarm.

Police initially said they were looking for three suspects, but later confirmed only two people were involved.

Investigators assume the suspects attempted to kill the teacher, who was left with one serious wound on his upper body. However, they were unable to say whether a knife was used in the attack.

Wedel's acting Mayor Julia Fisauli-Aalto from the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) told local media outlet SHZ.de that she was "completely shocked" and "speechless."

The town is located on the outskirts of the major city of Hamburg in northern Germany.

The adult education centre is described on the municipal website as "a place of lifelong learning, an educational and meeting centre for all citizens, companies, institutions, clubs and associations" in the region.

"With our work, we stand for equal educational opportunities for all," the description continued.