An eight-year-old-boy has been killed after he and his mother were pushed into the path of an oncoming train at Frankfurt's main station..

A man pushed the pair onto the tracks as a high-speed ICE train was pulling into the station, police said.

The mother managed to save herself but the young boy was hit and run over by the train, suffering fatal injuries.

The 40-year-old suspect unsuccessfully tried to push a third person onto the tracks before attempting to flee the scene.

He was chased by passers-by and arrested near the station.


Police said they do not currently have a motive but a spokeswoman said the suspect and the victims did not appear to know one another.

Detectives are questioning the man.

Image: A 40-year-old suspect was arrested near the scene

The boy's mother was taken to hospital and also questioned, although it was not clear how badly she was injured.

Isabell Neumann, of Frankfurt Police, said: "Shortly before 10am an ICE [train] arrived on platform seven and ran over an eight-year-old boy.

"We have to at this point assume that it was attempted murder.

"Witnesses relayed the information that a 40-year-old man pushed the boy and his mother onto the tracks while the ICE was rolling into the station.

"The eight-year-old boy was caught by the train and run over. He suffered fatal injuries."