Swiss stabber’s father defends son after ‘Allahu Akbar’ attack
A Swiss man who allegedly stabbed three people while shouting "Allahu Akbar" at a train station was released from psychiatric care days before the attack, with his father insisting he is mentally ill rather than a terrorist.
Nesip Dedeler, 31, has been identified by Swiss authorities as the suspect behind Thursday’s rush hour attack, according to New York Post. Swiss officials labeled him a terrorist following the violent incident, but his father Ayhan, 55, strongly rejected that characterization.
My son is not a terrorist, but mentally ill and needs help, Ayhan told Swiss outlet Blick. He described Nesip as extremely withdrawn, with no social connections and no romantic relationships.
The elder Dedeler painted a picture of a dysfunctional young man with no education, no employment, and no income, who has done nothing for a decade while smoking three to four packs of cigarettes daily. Ayhan said he had repeatedly urged his son to turn his life around, only to be rebuffed.
Mario Fehr, head of Switzerland’s Department of Security, publicly named Nesip Dedeler as the perpetrator during a Thursday afternoon press conference.
Ayhan said he learned of the stabbing spree through media reports, as New York Post reports. His ex-wife and two other sons are now expected to be questioned by investigators.
Released From Psychiatric Care Days Before Attack
Swiss authorities have disclosed that Dedeler was admitted to a psychiatric facility on Monday after making incoherent statements. He left the center voluntarily the next day, only to be apprehended by police and readmitted.
According to Ayhan, his son was apparently fearful of the treatment and mentioned something about injections. The father said he had advised Nesip to take his medication, eat properly, and exercise, framing the stay as beneficial to his health.
On Wednesday, medical staff determined Dedeler did not represent a threat to the public and released him. That assessment has left Fehr bewildered. The security chief stated that the reasoning behind the decision remains unclear, but the evaluation was plainly incorrect.
Ayhan himself acknowledged he could not comprehend why such a decision was made.
Known To Police Since 2015 For ISIS Links
Dedeler has been on law enforcement radar since 2015 for breaching Switzerland’s prohibition on the Islamic State, which has been enforced for over ten years. He allegedly distributed ISIS propaganda and consumed extremist material, Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported.
In 2015, Dedeler faced trial for assault in Wülflingen, a district of Winterthur. During that proceeding, he reportedly told the presiding judge he would not rise out of courtesy, as he stood only before Allah, according to 20Minuten. He further declared he had no regard for Swiss law, asserting that only Islamic law restrained him from attacking people, not Swiss legal statutes.
Dedeler was also reportedly connected to the An’Nur Mosque, which has been permanently shuttered. The mosque’s imam was charged in 2017 after advocating for the killing of non-practicing Muslims.
Traveled To Turkey, Returned In May
In 2024, Dedeler applied for a Swiss passport renewal before leaving for Turkey in August of that year, Fehr disclosed. He returned to Switzerland in May 2026 after vanishing for two years, the security chief confirmed.
Three Victims Hospitalized
Dedeler was taken into custody five minutes after the stabbings were reported. A witness told Blick that the suspect had a knife in his hand as bystanders screamed and fled.
The three male victims, aged 28, 43, and 52, were transported to hospital. The 52-year-old underwent emergency surgery after sustaining a stab wound to the thigh. Authorities have not released additional details regarding the arrest or the condition of the other victims.
With information from New York Post
