BERLIN — Authorities apprehended a suspect in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin on Friday, resulting in serious injuries to a tourist from Spain, according to law enforcement officials.

At this time, the motivation behind the attack remains unclear, particularly as it happened just two days ahead of Germany’s national elections scheduled for Sunday.

During a press briefing, police spokesperson Florian Nath reported that the incident took place around 6 p.m., likely involving a knife, although there’s a possibility of another weapon being used. Approximately three hours following the attack, a male individual approached police officers who were stationed near the memorial. Observers noted that he had blood on his hands, which raised suspicions among the authorities, Nath explained.

The responding officers detained the suspect, restraining him with handcuffs and securing him on the ground. Nath also indicated that law enforcement officials confiscated the weapon believed to be used in the assault and that the investigation would continue with plans to question the suspect.

The individual who was attacked is a 30-year-old male from Spain, who has since been transported to a local hospital for treatment of his wounds.

The incident took place at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a significant site characterized by its 2,700 gray concrete slabs. Located near the historic Brandenburg Gate in central Berlin, the memorial pays tribute to the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, orchestrated during the Nazi regime in Germany.