An American tourist was stabbed in Germany after stepping in to protect two women who were being harassed on public transportation, according to police.
The incident occurred early Sunday, Aug. 24, around 12:25 a.m., at the Neustädter Markt tram stop in Dresden, the Dresden Police Department said in a statement.
“Initially, two men from a group harassed female passengers on the train,” the statement explained. “A 21-year-old U.S. citizen intervened and was stabbed by one of the other perpetrators during the ensuing altercation.”
Authorities said the attackers fled, but officers later arrested one suspect, a 21-year-old man from Syria. The second suspect remains at large, and investigators are appealing for witnesses.
The victim was identified by loved ones as John Rudat through a GoFundMe campaign set up to support his recovery.
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“Fresh from completing Paramedic school, and having worked as an EMT for the last year and a half, John’s passion for saving lives drove him to heroically intervene when he saw two women being violently assaulted,” the fundraiser stated.
According to organizers, Rudat sustained a “deep facial wound from a 6-inch blade” that required “extensive” surgery.
“He now faces a challenging recovery; physically, emotionally, and even financially as he works to heal from this incident,” the campaign continued.
Police spokesman Thomas Geithner told German outlet BILD that authorities are pursuing the second suspect “at full speed” and are hopeful about identifying him soon.
