Pictures from the scene in Gera, a German city in eastern Thuringia, show charred upholstery on a public tram after the horrific daytime attack.
Police have launched a search for a woman's husband after she was the victim of an arson attack on public transport during daylight hours.
The unnamed woman was on a tram in the eastern German city of Gera on Sunday when she was approached by a stranger who threw a liquid at her. The 46-year-old was set on fire and only the quick action of her fellow passengers saved her.
They activated the emergency call button, which slowed the tram and allowed the driver to get out of the cab and put out the fire with a nearby fire extinguisher. German news agency DPA reported that while no other passengers were injured in the horrific incident, the attacker fled the scene.
Police spokeswoman Katja Ridder told the German newspaper NIUS: “Immediately afterwards, the passengers pressed the emergency call button and the tram stopped. At that moment, the doors of the tram opened and the perpetrator took advantage of this opportunity to escape in the direction of Gera-Langenberg.”
The woman was airlifted to hospital by helicopter, a police spokesman said, adding that officers immediately launched a search operation to catch her attacker. Investigators released a photo of the woman's husband, Tengizi Kakiashvili, a man of Georgian descent who is currently being treated as a subject of the investigation.
Thuringia police said in a statement that “she was sprayed with flammable liquid and set on fire by a man,” adding that her husband was the suspect. Officials released a photo of a balding Caucasian man with black and gray hair. Although his name was not released, police urged anyone who had seen him or may know his whereabouts to contact them immediately.
They added that he could not be ruled out as not posing a threat to the public at this time. It was not yet clear what prompted the attack or what liquid was used. A spokesman said: “It cannot be ruled out at this time that the wanted man may pose a danger to the public.”
Police also urged people to avoid contact with the potential attacker, saying: “If you come across Tengizi Kakiashvili or have any information about his current whereabouts, please report it immediately to the Gera Criminal Investigation Department or any other police station. Do not put yourself at risk!”
The spokesman added: “A number of police patrols are currently actively searching for the suspect, who remains at large. His identity has not yet been confirmed. It is being established whether the two had any contact with each other during the investigation.”
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