Münster (dpa / lnw) – A 50-year-old man is said to have stabbed his separated wife (46) with a knife on Monday evening in Münster and critically injured her. The woman is no longer in mortal danger, police and prosecutors said on Tuesday. The 15 and 18-year-old sons witnessed the horrific events.

According to previous investigations, the 46-year-old woman and the 15-year-old son were lying in bed when the 50-year-old rang the bell at the woman’s apartment door in the Kinderhaus district. The 18-year-old son opened it to him. According to initial findings, the accused went purposefully into the kitchen, got a knife and stabbed the upper body of the woman lying in bed.

The 18-year-old tore his father from his mother, took the knife from him and locked his brother and mother in the room to protect them. The man then fled, they said. The police were able to arrest the 50-year-old shortly thereafter near the apartment. The woman was taken to a hospital by paramedics.

A murder commission is to clarify the background of the fact. “The motive is still completely unclear. We are currently having evidence of a possible mental illness of the suspect checked,” said the head of the homicide squad, Frank Schneemann. The victim protectors of the Münster police are currently taking care of the two sons.