A motorist crashes into a protest in Munich, leaving 30 individuals injured.

BERLIN — A vehicle crashed into a labor union protest in central Munich on Thursday, injuring 30 individuals, including several children, according to local officials. Authorities are treating the incident as a suspected attack.

The driver, identified as a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, has been taken into custody. This event unfolds amid rising concerns about immigration-related violence, which has become a central topic in the lead-up to Germany’s elections scheduled for February 23.

The demonstration was organized by the service workers’ union ver.di, taking place around 10:30 a.m., when the driver reportedly accelerated his Mini Cooper and drove into a crowd of protesters following a police vehicle. Police fired at the car before apprehending the suspect. Some of those injured have sustained serious wounds. The vehicle, extensively damaged with a smashed windshield, was later placed onto a tow truck for investigation amidst debris, including discarded shoes.

Bavaria’s deputy police chief, Christian Huber, reported that the suspect lived in Munich and possessed a valid residency permit. He was previously known to police as a witness in prior investigations due to his former employment as a store detective. Governor Markus Söder expressed his condolences to the victims, stating, “We feel for the victims, we are praying for the victims — we wish for their full recovery.” He added, “There are many indications that this was an attack.”

Furthermore, Mayor Dieter Reiter confirmed that children had also been affected by the incident.

This alarming event follows another tragic incident in Aschaffenburg three weeks prior, which involved a knife attack resulting in the deaths of a two-year-old boy and another man, allegedly carried out by an Afghan man whose asylum request had been denied. This and other recent violent acts have elevated migration discussions within the German election landscape.

Last year’s attacks in Mannheim and Solingen, both involving immigrants, and a December car ramming incident in Magdeburg, where the perpetrator was a Saudi doctor, have heightened demands for a reevaluation of migration policies.

In the wake of this attack, Germany’s main conservative opposition, including prominent figures like Söder, is advocating for stricter measures against irregular migration. They have called for more individuals to be turned away at the borders and an increase in deportations. The far-right Alternative for Germany party is also emphasizing immigration control, reflecting its rising support in recent polls.

Söder remarked, “We cannot continue to respond to each attack with mere dismay. This is not an isolated incident, and we must take decisive action in Germany swiftly.” Meanwhile, Alice Weidel, co-leader of Alternative for Germany, expressed a sense of urgency on social media, demanding immediate policy shifts regarding migration.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government has noted their ongoing efforts to reduce irregular immigration and stated that the opposition’s proposals clash with existing German and EU laws. Describing the Munich event as “a terrible attack,” Scholz emphasized that individuals committing crimes in Germany will face severe punishment and possible deportation. He reiterated the government’s recent actions, including deporting convicted Afghan criminals, a measure intended to become an ongoing process.

Bavaria’s interior minister indicated that, despite the suspect’s rejected asylum application, attempts to deport him had been unsuccessful. Heavy security is anticipated in Munich over the next few days due to the upcoming three-day Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering for international security and foreign policy officials. Although authorities do not currently believe the car incident is linked to the conference, they continue to investigate its motives.