There was a nasty attack in Frankfurt am Main at the weekend. A previously unknown man set fire to a woman’s hair as he passed by. He is said to have asked her to “leave the country”. The police are investigating.

An unknown person apparently set fire to the hair of a woman in Frankfurt am Main in passing. The motive for the act points to xenophobia, the police said on Wednesday. The 22-year-old reacted quickly and was unharmed in the incident on Tuesday afternoon in the Praunheim district, except for singed hair.

According to the investigation, the man came towards her on foot. As they passed each other, she suddenly noticed a flame in the hair on her head. These were singed as a result. The man is said to have asked the woman to “leave the country”. He was able to escape – an immediate search was unsuccessful. The police are investigating aggravated assault.