German police investigating knife attack on a train that hospitalized U.S. citizen

An American man living in Germany remains hospitalized after he was stabbed over the weekend while attempting to prevent two men from harassing a group of female passengers on a train, authorities said.

Police in Dresden said the 21-year-old was stabbed in the face after he attempted to intervene. The assailants fled as passengers on the train provided the unidentified American with first aid.

“Police officers who were called to the scene managed to catch one of the two, a 21-year-old Syrian, nearby. They are investigating him and the still-unidentified man for, among other things, grievous bodily harm,” German authorities said in a statement.

The American later posted a video on Instagram after he was taken to a hospital. A blood-soaked bandage covered his mouth and nose.

“If you all didn’t think that Europe had an immigration problem, especially Germany, let me drop some knowledge on you,” he said. “These people can just come in, swing knives and hurt, abuse, terrorize and oppress the citizens of Germany.”

The victim said the apprehended assailant was well-known in the community as a drug dealer and is neither a citizen of Germany nor the European Union.

“Police are seeking witnesses, especially the numerous train passengers, who can provide information about the incident,” German authorities said in a statement.

The German newspaper Die Welt said the American moved to Germany with his German father when he was 17. He had worked for the Dresden Fire Department and competed in mixed martial arts competitions in East Germany.