A vehicle crashed into a labor union protest in central Munich on Thursday, resulting in injuries to at least 28 individuals, including children, according to local officials. Authorities are treating the incident as a potential attack.
The driver, a 24-year-old man seeking asylum from Afghanistan, was apprehended at the scene. This troubling event follows a series of similar incidents involving immigrants that have brought immigration issues to the forefront of the upcoming German election set for February 23.
The service workers’ union, ver.di, organized a demonstration where participants were peacefully marching down a street at around 10:30 a.m. when the car, overtaking a police vehicle that was accompanying the protest, accelerated and collided into the back of the crowd.
According to deputy police chief Christian Huber, officers engaged with the suspect by firing a shot at the vehicle before making the arrest. The scene showcased a damaged Mini Cooper and scattered debris, including shoes, highlighting the chaos that ensued.
Huber reported that among the injured, some sustained severe injuries. The suspect was reportedly previously known to the police due to prior encounters linked to theft and drug-related activities. However, specific details regarding his prior offenses have not been disclosed. Officials ultimately believe the gathering was randomly chosen for the attack.
The state’s justice minister, Georg Eisenreich, confirmed that a department specializing in extremist and terrorist investigations is currently examining the situation. Bavarian governor Markus Söder expressed his condolences to the victims, stating, “We feel with the victims, we are praying for the victims — we hope very much that they all make it.”
Addressing the media, Mayor Dieter Reiter noted that children were among those hurt during the incident.
This tragic event follows closely on the heels of a recent knife attack in Aschaffenburg, which resulted in the deaths of a two-year-old boy and an adult. The suspected attacker was an Afghan individual whose asylum claim had been denied, a scenario that has intensified discussions surrounding immigration reform in light of the upcoming elections.
Prior to the Aschaffenburg incident, there were knife attacks in Mannheim and Solingen involving immigrants from Afghanistan and Syria, respectively. In addition, a separate car ram attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg involved a Saudi doctor who had been previously flagged by local authorities.
In response to these incidents, the main opposition conservative faction, with Söder as a significant figure, is pressing for stricter measures concerning irregular migration. This includes calls for heightened efforts to turn back more undocumented individuals at the border and increased deportations. Migration remains a central topic for the far-right party, Alternative for Germany, which ranks second in polling against the conservative bloc.
Söder emphasized the need for systemic changes in the German approach to immigration, stating, “We can’t just react in dismay and thank the police for their response.” He expressed determination for immediate reform in the face of ongoing threats.
Meanwhile, co-leader of the Alternative for Germany, Alice Weidel, voiced her concerns on social media, urging for a decisive shift in migration policies.
Center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration countered by asserting they have already taken substantial steps to curb irregular migration. Scholz characterized the Munich incident as “a terrible attack,” reinforcing that severe legal repercussions face anyone committing crimes in Germany, which may lead to deportation.
The chancellor highlighted a recent deportation flight to Afghanistan, reinforcing his government’s commitment to regularly removing convicted offenders, regardless of the complexity involved in some cases.
Bavarian Interior Minister Herrmann confirmed that the suspect’s claim for asylum had been denied, but deportation had not been feasible at the time. As the renowned Munich Security Conference approaches, heightened security measures are anticipated in the city. Authorities have not linked the car ramming with this event but are continuing to investigate the motives behind the attack.
