Following the knife attack in the Swiss city of Winterthur, in which three people were injured, the father of 31-year-old suspect Nesip Dedeler has spoken publicly for the first time. In statements to the Swiss newspaper Blick, Ayhan Dedeler said that his son had been struggling with serious psychological problems for many years and argued that the incident should not be viewed solely through the lens of terrorism.
The attack took place on Thursday morning near Winterthur train station. Three people were injured, and the attacker reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the incident. Following the attack, Zurich Security Director Mario Fehr described the incident as a “terrorist act” and stated that the suspect had previously been connected to radical circles.
Ayhan Dedeler, who was in Turkey at the time of the attack, rejected the description of his son as a “terrorist.” “My son is not a terrorist; he is psychologically ill and in need of help,” he said.
The father acknowledged that his son had previously spent time around the An’Nur Mosque community in Winterthur and had been influenced by radical ideas during that period. However, he noted that his two other sons, who had also been in contact with the same circles, later distanced themselves from such views, while Nesip Dedeler struggled to put his life in order.
Ayhan Dedeler stated that his son had been unemployed for many years and had become increasingly isolated from social life. “He had neither a job nor a stable social environment. He had been living a withdrawn life for years,” he said.
He also claimed that his son’s psychological condition had significantly worsened in recent days. According to the father, he had welcomed the decision to admit his son to a psychiatric clinic before the attack but could not understand why he was discharged shortly afterward.
Ayhan Dedeler also expressed his condolences and wishes for recovery to those injured in the attack, saying: “My greatest wish is for the victims to recover completely.”
Swiss authorities stated that the investigation into the Winterthur attack is ongoing and that the case is being examined from multiple angles, including possible terrorist connections and the suspect’s psychological history.
Source: Blick Newspaper
