A 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker plowed his car into a crowd of people in Munich on Thursday, injuring at least 28 individuals, according to local police. Authorities are treating the incident as a suspected attack, and the driver—who has a criminal record involving theft and drug offenses—has been arrested.
Incident Overview
The attack occurred at approximately 10:30 AM local time when a Mini Cooper accelerated into the back of a rally organized by the Verdi trade union. The event was part of a strike involving public sector workers, including employees from day-care centers, hospitals, sanitation facilities, and public swimming pools, all demanding better wages and longer holidays.
More than 1,000 people were present when the vehicle struck, prompting a massive emergency response in the Dachauer Strasse area. Police confirmed that one shot was fired at the vehicle before the suspect was taken into custody. It remains unclear whether the driver sustained any injuries.
Authorities are investigating whether the suspect deliberately targeted the demonstration. However, they have ruled out any connection to the Munich Security Conference, which was set to begin later in the day and was expected to host U.S. Vice President and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Casualties and Emergency Response
At least 28 people suffered injuries, with two in serious condition, according to German police. The local fire department stated that some victims are in life-threatening conditions. Among the injured are children, as many attendees had brought their families to the rally.
Victims are being treated at various medical facilities, including a children’s hospital and the Munich Red Cross Clinic. Munich’s deputy mayor, Dominik Krause, condemned the attack, noting that several city employees were among the injured and calling the incident “especially heinous.”
Suspect’s Background
Authorities identified the suspect as a 24-year-old Afghan national who sought asylum in Germany in 2016 as a minor. His asylum request was rejected in 2017, and he had been required to leave the country since 2020. Despite this, he remained in Germany and was known to law enforcement for previous offenses, including drug-related crimes and shoplifting.
Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann indicated that officials are still working to determine the suspect’s exact motives. However, Bavarian state premier Markus Söder suggested that it was “likely an attack.”
Eyewitness Accounts
Witnesses described scenes of chaos following the attack. A woman working at a nearby orthopedic shop told the BBC that several panicked and crying individuals ran inside for safety. Pedestrians fled into nearby businesses and residential buildings. One witness reported that the driver accelerated before hitting the crowd, knocking 10 to 15 people to the ground.
Political and Public Reactions
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for swift justice, stating, “This perpetrator cannot hope for any leniency. He must be punished and must leave the country.” Söder echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Germany must take decisive action to prevent future incidents.
“This is not the first case, and who knows what else will happen,” he said. “It is now even more important that we show determination in ensuring that something must change in Germany.”
Authorities continue their investigation into the incident, with further details expected in the coming days.
