Swiss man arrested with chainsaw, bag of crossbows

  • 27/07/2017
Chainsaw action
The 50-year-old was arrested after police was tipped off by locals. Photo credit: Getty

The suspect in a chainsaw attack on a Swiss health insurer's office was carrying a bag with two crossbows when he was detained but did not resist arrest, a prosecutor says.

Suspect Franz Wrousis was arrested on Tuesday night in Thalwil, a lakeside town south of Zurich and about 60km by road from the scene of Monday morning's attack in Schaffhausen.

The 50-year-old was arrested after police was tipped off by locals.

Prosecutor Peter Sticher said Wrousis was alone and on foot at the time of his arrest and "the arrest went without resistance - he behaved properly and co-operatively".

Mr Sticher said at a news conference in Schaffhausen on Wednesday that Wrousis was carrying a plastic bag with two loaded crossbows and two sharpened wooden slats.

Wrousis is accused of attacking two employees of a health insurance company at their office in Schaffhausen's old town. One of them was seriously hurt, though the injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Authorities are still searching for the chainsaw used in the attack.

Two customers were treated for shock after they witnessed the attack and another person was slightly injured during the police operation.

Authorities have said Wrousis, a client of health insurer CSS, targeted the agency, although his motive remains unclear.

He will be examined by a doctor before being questioned.

Reuters