The 21-year-old American hero who was stabbed in the face by a Syrian “refugee” harrassing 2 young women Saturday night in Dresden (Gateway reported) has come forward and identified himself as John Rudat, a student and male model from Albany, New York. John’s modeling career is “over now” due to the scar in his face, he said, but he would stand up and defend the woman again “without hesitation”, he told German journalist Anabel Schunke for Junge Freiheit newspaper.
Anabel Schunke: How are you, John?
John Rudat: Today was an important day. I feel better, and some of the bandages have been removed from my wound. Now I can see the cut more clearly.
Anabel Schunke: Please tell us what happened. How did the fight start?
John Rudat: It all happened very quickly, as is often the case with violent confrontations. Fortunately, the police are investigating and will see justice is done. When the attackers started harassing a woman on the tram, I tried to calm everyone down. My instinct was to put myself between her and the perpetrator, so I stretched out my arm to create distance and protect her. So the main attacker immediately turned on me. It escalated almost instantly, while I continued to shield the woman. After I managed to create some distance, another man suddenly appeared, slashed my face and disappeared. He is still at large, but I have full confidence justice will be done for this senseless and brutal act of violence. My actions were completely justified. I intervened because someone was clearly in danger, and I would do the same thing again.
Anabel Schunke: Did other men help you?
John Rudat: No, no one helped me, apart from my friends. They called the police and made sure that I remained as safe as possible after the attack. Unfortunately, the other passengers did not intervene at all. I have to say I understand them – many people are scared or don’t think they can do anything. They have their own lives, their work and their responsibilities, and fear makes it hard to intervene.
Anabel Schunke: How did your friends and family in the USA react?
John Rudat: Well, they were very worried when they first heard about the attack, of course. As a freshly graduated paramedic, I know a lot of police officers and first responders. Everyone strongly backed my decision to protect the woman and is helping me in this difficult time.
Anabel Schunke: Why are you in Germany? Would you come back after what happened?
John Rudat: I was visiting my former host family in Dresden. I spent a year here as a student in 2022-2023 and fell in love with the city. Dresden is my favorite city in Germany. Unfortunately, I saw crime and violence grow here. I feel for the people of Dresden who have to live with this fear and often have the feeling they can’t talk about it openly. When lives are in danger, it transcends politics. We have to be open about what’s going on. But Dresden is like my second home, I would definitely defend it.
Anabel Schunke: The suspect has a police record and is still at large. What do you think of how the police handled it?
John Rudat: I believe the police are doing everything they can. They are part of the community like all of us, but they face the gravest danger. The officers I spoke to were very professional and had my back. Since I come from a family of police officers, I have great respect for what they do. It’s not an easy life, and only a few people really understand it. If we want real change, we have to recognize the police are here to protect us, and work with them as a partner.
Anabel Schunke: Will you be scarred for life? How will this affect your modeling career?
John Rudat: My modeling career is over now. They told me a scar will remain, and I can see it. But I don’t regret defending her. For me, my scar is a symbol of strength. It reminds me I’m alive, and thankfully I still have my eyesight. Instead of being sad, I feel strengthened. My scar symbolizes standing up to senseless aggression.
Anabel Schunke: Would you do it again?
John Rudat: Yes, I would defend that woman again, without hesitation. She was in serious danger and unable to protect herself. Every injury I got was worth it to protect their lives. For me, it was my personal duty and an expression of the values I was raised with – to stand up against violence and oppression.
John’s family has set up a GoFundMe for his support. His brother’s girlfriend, Molly Sheldon, wrote:
My boyfriend’s brother, John, was brutally attacked on public transportation while traveling in Germany on August 24th, 2025.
Fresh from completing Paramedic school, and having worked as an EMT for the last year and a half, John’s passion for saving lives drove him to heroically intervene when he saw two women being violently assaulted by, according to Law Enforcement reports, two Syrian Nationals. One of whom was detained briefly by authorities but released shortly after, and the other remains at large.
John sustained critical injuries from his attempts to protect these females, including a deep facial wound from a 6-inch blade, requiring immediate and extensive surgery in Germany.
This horrible act against John leaves us devastated and seeking justice. He now faces a challenging recovery; physically, emotionally, and even financially as he works to heal from this incident. We are all heartbroken but determined to support him through this ordeal.
John is a kind, selfless soul who put his own safety on the line to help others, and now we’re rallying to support him.
To help cover his medical expenses and ongoing care, we’ve launched a GoFund Me. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in helping him rebuild his life after this violent attack. Thank you for your kindness and support during this difficult time.
‘My main priority was the safety of the woman.’
American model John Rudat speaks out after being attacked by a migrant while defending a woman on a tram in Dresden.
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— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 26, 2025
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