A man is said to have seriously injured a 58-year-old woman in a Berlin green area by stabbing her neck with a knife.

On Saturday lunchtime, the 29-year-old approached the landscape gardener in Wilmersdorf because he was allegedly bothered by the fact that she was working as a woman, as the police announced on Sunday.

Then he is said to have suddenly stabbed her in the neck several times with a knife.

He also attacked a 66-year-old passerby who was hurrying to help with the knife and seriously injured him.

The suspect was arrested at the scene.

According to the police, the Afghan man is suspected of having a mental illness.

The Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office announced on Sunday evening via Twitter that an arrest warrant had been issued against the 29-year-old at her request.

The man was in custody for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm as well as in terms of the attack on the helper because of dangerous bodily harm, as it was said.

The Public Prosecutor's Office and the State Criminal Police Office are now also investigating under the aspect of a possible Islamist-motivated attack.