‘Unbelievably cruel act’ condemned by German chancellor after axe attack on Hong Kong tourists
One victim remains in a coma after assault, another is critical while relatives ask whether two others who were injured less seriously can be moved back to Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s first victims of a wave of so-called Islamist terror in Europe remained in a critical condition on Thursday night as German leader Angela Merkel condemned the train axe attack they endured as an “unbelieveably cruel act”.
While the oldest of the four Hong Kong victims, 62-year-old Yau Shu-ping, came out of a coma last night, a second victim, Edmund Au Yeung Chi-kin, 31, remained unconscious and locked in a fight for his life.
They were attacked on Monday by what the German authorities believe was a man inspired by Islamic State. Yau and Au suffered horrific injuries as they tried to stop the attacker on a train in the Bavarian city of Wuerzburg.
German chancellor Angela Merkel made her first public comments on the attack. “My thoughts are first and foremost with the victims of this crime. We extend our heartfelt wishes that they will be able to recover from their injuries, from the physical and psychological trauma,” she said.
On Wednesday, a source close to the family said the relatives were keen to get those with less serious injuries back to Hong Kong as soon as it was reasonable to do so.
