A 23-year-old man has died after being stabbed by a 64-year-old man in Debrecen on Saturday night. Another young man was also injured in the attack, while a third friend who was with them escaped unharmed.
Police were called to the scene in the area of Múzeum Street in the early hours of Sunday after reports that two young men had been stabbed. Ambulance crews took both injured victims to hospital, while police officers began searching for the suspect based on a description provided at the scene.
According to information reported by RTL and local media, the 64-year-old homeless man became involved in an argument with the two young men after they reportedly confronted him for allegedly bothering a woman. The suspect then attacked them with a knife, stabbing one in the chest and the other in the abdomen.
After the attack, the suspect fled the scene. The young man who had been stabbed in the abdomen still had enough strength to seek help at a nearby tobacco shop, where police and emergency services were notified.
The third member of the group remained with the seriously injured 23-year-old and tried to help him by pressing clothing against his wound.
Despite receiving professional medical treatment, the 23-year-old died in hospital. The other injured young man’s condition is stable.
Police located the 64-year-old suspect approximately two hours after the attack. He was handcuffed and taken to police headquarters, where he was questioned as a suspect and placed in custody. Prosecutors have initiated proceedings to have him remanded in custody, with a court expected to decide on his detention early next week.
The Hajdú-Bihar County Police Headquarters is investigating the case as causing life-threatening bodily harm. The exact legal classification of the case may be subject to change as the investigation progresses.
Debrecen Mayor László Papp also addressed the tragedy, describing it as an “unfathomable tragedy” in a social media post.
“A 23-year-old young man’s life ended meaninglessly and tragically on Saturday night,” the mayor wrote, expressing his condolences to the victim’s family, relatives and friends.
Papp László also wished a speedy recovery to the other young man injured in the attack and thanked the police, paramedics, doctors and clinical staff for their work, as well as everyone who helped in the aftermath of the incident.
“I express my sympathy to everyone affected by what happened,” the mayor concluded.
