19 Jul 2016

German train attack: IS flag found in teen's room

7:45 pm on 19 July 2016

An Islamic State flag has been found in the home of a teenager who attacked passengers with an axe on a train in southern Germany, officials say.

Police officers stand by a regional train in Wuerzburg in southern Germany on July 18, 2016

Police officers stand by the train in Wuerzburg in southern Germany. Photo: AFP

The 17-year-old Afghan refugee wounded four people before he was shot dead by the police today.

Bavarian interior minister Joachim Herrmann said the jihadist group's flag, which was found in the teenager's room, was hand-drawn, and he cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the attacker's motives.

Mr Herrmann said the teenager appeared to have arrived in Germany as an unaccompanied minor.

Two of those injured were in a critical condition, he said.

Media reports say the injured passengers are a family from Hong Kong.

A police spokesperson said the attack happened shortly before the train from Treuchlingen arrived at Wuerzburg about 9.15pm local time on Monday.

Initial reports said up to 20 people had been injured but it was later revealed that at least 14 had been treated for shock.

- Reuters / RNZ