Munich, Germany – At least 28 people have been injured after a car drove into a crowd in Munich, emergency services reported. Authorities suspect the incident to be a deliberate attack.
The incident occurred as the city prepares for the Munich Security Conference, which is set to host high-profile leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Suspect Identified as 24-Year-Old Asylum Seeker
Police have arrested the driver, identified as a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker. Some of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries, according to a fire service spokesperson.
Bavarian state premier Markus Söder described the incident as a “suspected attack,” stating, “I must tell you, it looks like this was an attack.”
Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos
A reporter from local broadcaster BR described the scene on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “One person is lying on the street, and a young man has been taken away by the police. People are sitting on the ground, crying and trembling.”
Reports indicate that the victims were participating in a demonstration connected to a strike organized by the Verdi union. However, the union stated that it had no further information on the incident.
Security Concerns Ahead of Conference and Elections
The attack took place approximately 1.5 km from the security conference venue, raising concerns about security measures. Germany has been on high alert due to recent violent incidents and the upcoming federal election next week.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack as security preparations intensify for the international summit.
