German child killing suspect Silvio S ‘attacked by fellow inmate’ at Berlin prison

Police say the 32-year-old has admitted sexually abusing and killing a missing refugee boy, as well as killing another boy

The man was arrested in connection with the disappearance of four-year-old Mohamed Januzi (AFP/Getty Images)

A man who has allegedly confessed to the abduction and murder of two young boys in Germany has reportedly been attack by another prisoner in his Berlin jail.

Identified only as Silvio S because of Germany’s strict privacy laws, prosecutors say the suspect has admitted to sexually abusing and killing four-year-old refugee child Mohamed Januzi in a case that sparked a nationwide search.

The 32-year-old security guard was arrested on Thursday after his mother tipped off police, and upon his arrest also seemingly admitted abducting and killing six-year-old Elias from Potsdam. Directions he reportedly gave to police led them to a body buried in his apartment, which has since been confirmed as belonging to the boy who went missing in July.

According to the German daily Bild, Silvio S is being detained in isolation at the JVA Moabit prison in Berlin. He has been kept apart from other inmates and subjected to additional surveillance due to his suicide risk.

Speaking to the newspaper, justice department spokeswoman Claudia Engfeld confirmed Silvio S had been attacked by a fellow prisoner during a break hour in the prison’s exercise yard, despite being flanked by two prison officers.

“The attacker approached from behind and punched [Silvio S],” she said. “The two officials who accompanied the 32-year-old intervened immediately.”

Bild said the suspect had received only minor injuries and did not require medical treatment, while the attacker was reprimanded for causing disorder in the prison.

Yesterday, prosecutors confirmed that the months-long search for missing Elias had ended in the allotment belonging to Silvio S following a DNA analysis.

Police said the suspect told them Mohamed’s body was in the boot of his car as soon as he was confronted at his mother’s home.

The four-year-old Bosnian boy had been abducted from his parents while they visited a welfare centre. High quality CCTV footage showed a man leading him away from the centre by the hand.

Berlin senior prosecutor Michael von Hagen said the suspect had admitted to taking Mohamed to his flat and sexually abusing him. He strangled the child the following morning when he wouldn't stop crying, police said.

The suspect did not give further details about Elias' death, but on the night of his arrest told police he had buried the child's body and gave them a sketch of its location.