Ukrainian refugee dies after being pushed by an illegal Iraqi in Germany
The case caused a stir, as the victim had fled Mariupol in 2022 to start a new life away from the war
A young Ukrainian refugee, identified as 16-year-old Liana K., died on August 11 in Friedland, Germany, after being pushed onto the tracks just as a freight train traveling at approximately 100 km/h (62 mph) approached.
The teenager was returning home around 4:00 p.m. and was talking on the phone with her grandfather when the tragedy occurred. According to the German newspaper Bild, the man heard a desperate scream before the line was cut off. Initially, the police considered it an accident, but the grandfather's account ruled out that hypothesis.
The perpetrator was identified as a 31-year-old Iraqi immigrant whose asylum application had been rejected and who was staying illegally in Germany despite having a deportation order.
Initially, he claimed to have found the body "by chance," but forensic tests found DNA traces on the victim's shoulder, confirming his involvement.
According to Stern magazine, the man had previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had a blood alcohol level of 1.35% at the time of the crime.
He is currently in a psychiatric hospital under investigation for manslaughter. The prosecutor's office indicated that there is no evidence that he had previously known the young woman.
The scandal didn't erupt until weeks later, once the local press brought the incident to light. As in the case of the murder of Ukrainian refugee Irina Zarutska in the United States, the media and authorities actively sought to cover up and downplay the events.
Liana had fled Mariupol in 2022 with her parents and two younger siblings after their home was destroyed by the Russian army. In Germany, she was seeking to rebuild her life and was studying to become a dental assistant.
Germany has been one of the main destinations for Ukrainian refugees since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion. By the end of 2024, the country had welcomed more than 1.2 million Ukrainians, the highest number within the European Union. According to official data, about 65% of them plan to settle permanently in Germany.