A 47-year-old woman was left fighting for her life on Thursday after she was repeatedly stabbed and then set on fire inside Stuttgart’s Milaneo shopping center.

Emergency calls began reaching police shortly after the mall opened at around 10:15 a.m. The victim, reportedly an employee at one of the stores, was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent emergency surgery.

According to Bild, the suspected attacker fled the scene, prompting police to evacuate and seal off the shopping center while armed officers searched the complex. A helicopter was also deployed.

Officers arrested a 54-year-old man at approximately 12:10 p.m. in Stuttgart-Heumaden, several miles from the mall. Prosecutors said the suspect and victim were, or had previously been, in a relationship.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and securing evidence as they attempt to establish the motive. Authorities said there was no continuing danger to the public, and the Milaneo later reopened.

The Stuttgarter Nachrichten identified the suspect as a German national. However, his background remains unclear.

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When asked on X why the suspect’s nationality had not been included in the initial police statement, Stuttgart Police said recently announced state guidelines requiring greater disclosure had not yet taken effect and that officers were still following the previous regulations.

German authorities also routinely describe naturalized foreign-born suspects solely as German nationals. It is therefore not yet known whether the arrested man was born in Germany or later acquired German citizenship.

The suspect is expected to appear before a magistrate on Friday.