German police hunt man who set wife on fire in tram

The 46-year-old woman was targeted as she was inside the tram in Gera, in eastern Germany.

"She was sprayed with flammable liquid and set alight by a man," police for the state of Thuringia said, clarifying later that the suspect was the victim's husband.

When other passengers pressed the emergency stop button, the perpetrator took advantage of the doors opening to flee.

The tram's driver used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames, but the woman sustained life-threatening wounds and was taken by helicopter to hospital.

The police said patrols "are actively searching for the perpetrator", who was not yet identified but wanted for attempted murder.

Police published a photo of the alleged suspect, 46, who has Georgian roots, as well as a description of the clothes he was wearing at the time of the attack.