It could be purely coincidental that these attacks follow the pattern of previous jihad attacks. It may be absolute happenstance that Muslims in nearby Wuppertal recently became outraged when asked not to “pray provocatively” at a school. German authorities are being tight-lipped, so no solid conclusions can be drawn. What we do know is that jihad groups have repeatedly called for attacks on civilians in Europe and North America, and that authorities have in many cases been extremely reluctant to admit that a particular attack was a jihad attack, even when it was obvious. That’s why incidents such as this one bear watching.

“Second MACHETE attack in Dusseldorf hours after axe rampage at city station,” by Rebecca Perring, Express, March 10, 2017: