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Girl, 14, killed and 13-year-old seriously injured in attack on way to school in Germany

Police forensics markers are painted at a crime scene where two girls were attacked on their way to school in Illerkirchberg  (AP)
Police forensics markers are painted at a crime scene where two girls were attacked on their way to school in Illerkirchberg (AP)

A 14-year-old girl has died and a 13-year-old is seriously injured after they were attacked by a man with a knife on their way to school in Germany, police said.

Police in the south-western city of Ulm said first responders resuscitated the older girl before she was taken to hospital after the attack at about 7.30am in the nearby town of Illerkirchberg.

“Despite all efforts by the doctors she died there,” police said in a statement.

The younger girl remains in hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, they added. Both victims had German citizenship.

A 27-year-old man was arrested inside a refugee shelter near the scene of the attack. The man, who was found with injuries and a knife, is of Eritrean origin, police said.

Two other men were also detained.

Investigators are trying to determine a motive for the attack and whether the suspect and the girls knew each other.

Germany’s top security official expressed shock at the attack.

“I grieve with the girl who was killed and hope fervently that the injured recovers her health,” interior minister Nanct Faeser said on Twitter.

“My thoughts are with their families at this time.”

In their statement, police urged people to refrain from stoking suspicion against refugees, asylum-seekers and other foreigners.