MANNHEIM, Germany — Authorities are set to question a male suspect on Tuesday after an incident where a car was driven into a crowd in Mannheim, located in southwestern Germany. The event led to the tragic deaths of two individuals and inflicted injuries on 11 others.
Andreas Stenger, head of the State Criminal Police Office, informed that police hope that speaking to the suspect will shed light on the motives behind the attack, which took place on Monday.
In the heart of the city, mourners gathered to pay their respects, with individuals like Sara Stefini leaving tributes such as flowers. “It’s where I live, the center of my life,” Stefini expressed emotionally at the spontaneous memorial.
The accused, a 40-year-old German man hailing from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, is currently held in custody at a hospital following injuries. Thomas Strobl, State Interior Minister for Baden-Württemberg, which encompasses Mannheim, revealed these details on Monday.
Strobl remarked later in Mannheim that, regarding the incident’s motive, there is no current indication of any extremist or religious intent. The motivation, he suggested, might be personal to the individual involved.
German authorities stated in a conference that the driver deliberately crashed into pedestrians and is now facing investigations for murder and attempted murder. Of the injured, five individuals sustained critical injuries.
Reports indicate that the driver attempted to shoot himself in the mouth on arrest and is receiving medical care. Although not driven by any ideological intent, prosecutors indicated that the man’s record shows previous convictions. More than a decade ago, he was imprisoned briefly for assault and had previous charges for driving under the influence. There was also a hate speech infraction on Facebook four years ago, for which he was fined.
The ongoing investigation is also exploring whether the suspect is experiencing psychological issues.
Germany has witnessed several violent incidents involving vehicles as weapons in recent months. Police spokesperson Stefan Wilhelm reported that the car plowed into a bustling pedestrian area, Paradeplatz, around midday when people typically break for lunch. Local reports noted an ongoing carnival market, attracting higher-than-usual attendance in the 326,000-person city of Mannheim.
Emerging political leader Friedrich Merz stressed on social media that these incidents have reinforced the need for proactive prevention measures. Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz extended his condolences to victims’ families affected by such purposeless violence.
Recent events echo last month’s attack where a young child and her mother succumbed two days post an assault at a Munich union demonstration. The suspect, a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, faced arrest with suspicions of extremist Islamic motives.
The previous year witnessed a deadly car attack at a Magdeburg Christmas market, leaving six dead and over 200 injured. The suspect, a 50-year-old originally from Saudi Arabia, had shown anti-Muslim inclinations and sympathy for the far-right party, Alternative for Germany.
