BERLIN — On Friday, a significant manhunt was initiated by detectives throughout Berlin following a stabbing incident that occurred at the Holocaust memorial, just two days ahead of Germany’s national elections.

Approximately three hours after the stabbing, officers canvassing the area encountered an unidentified man with bloodied hands. He complied with police commands without uttering a word, according to Florian Nath, the primary spokesperson for the city’s police force, who spoke to NBC News at the scene.

Authorities are considering this individual as the sole suspect and are not pursuing leads on any other potential perpetrators, Nath confirmed.

Law enforcement received a call regarding the incident at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe around 6 p.m. local time. A 30-year-old Spanish tourist sustained serious but not life-threatening stab wounds to his upper body. Nath mentioned that the weapon used was “something very sharp that could inflict serious injuries,” likely a knife or screwdriver.

The memorial, which features 2,711 concrete slabs, is located across from the U.S. Embassy and near the iconic Brandenburg Gate. Six bystanders were left traumatized by the attack and are currently receiving support from officers.

This incident prompted a manhunt involving 80 to 100 officers, both in plain clothes and uniforms, in a city of nearly 4 million residents.

“Suspects often return to the scene of the crime, and in this case, that was true,” Nath noted. “We apprehended him right away and discovered significant evidence on him,” though he declined to disclose the specifics of that evidence and mentioned that the suspect did not possess any identification.

As the suspect was being led into a police vehicle, officers held a white sheet to shield his identity from public view.

Emergency responders surrounded the area with vehicles, including police vans and a fire engine equipped with a cherry picker that illuminated the site as investigators conducted their work.

Leading up to the elections, Germany has witnessed a series of high-profile attacks, contributing to a tense atmosphere surrounding the upcoming vote, especially concerning immigration discussions.

Despite research indicating that Germany’s crime rate is actually on the decline, these incidents have had a profound impact on the nation during the campaign period. The far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party has seized upon these events to bolster its calls for mass deportation and tighter border controls.

Elon Musk, billionaire and White House adviser, shared a video from the crime scene on his platform X, alongside a statement from the original poster asserting, “Europe is a totally unsafe place nowadays.” In his repost, Musk reiterated his claim that “only AfD can save Germany.”