Boy, 8, dies after being pushed on to train tracks in Germany

His mother was also shoved but avoided being hit

Police patrol near the place where a child was pushed onto the tracks in Frankfurt's central station (Hauptbahnhof), Germany, 29 July 2018. EPA/ARMANDO BABANI

A boy, 8, was knocked down by a train and killed after a man pushed him and his mother on to tracks at the main railway station in Frankfurt, German police say.

The mother, then the boy were pushed on to the tracks at 10am on Monday as the high speed Ice train was pulling into the station.

The mother escaped and was taken to hospital but the boy was killed instantly.

Police said that the 40-year-old suspect tried to push another person on to the tracks but failed.

After trying to flee the scene, the man was tackled to the ground by officers and arrested near. There was no immediate information on his motive.

Police spokeswoman Isabell Neumann said there appeared to be no connection between the suspect and victims.

The police said that the suspect was believed to be from Eritrea but didn’t offer any further information about him.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer strongly condemned the “horrific act” and warned against jumping to any conclusions as police were still investigating.

Mr Seehofer said that he would cut short his holiday to discuss the security situation with senior officials on Tuesday.

Earlier this month a woman, 34, was pushed in front of a train and killed in Voerde in northern Germany.

The suspect in that case, a German-born Serb, is in custody.