A terrifying incident unfolded in Munich on the morning of February 13, when a Mini Cooper crashed into a crowd, injuring at least 20 people, including several children.
The driver, identified as a 26-year-old Afghan man, was arrested on-site after the attack. Local police confirmed that the driver is no longer a threat, assuring the public that the situation has been brought under control.
The crash took place around 10:30 a.m. on Seidlstrasse, where demonstrators affiliated with the Verdi trade union were protesting. Eyewitnesses reported a chaotic scene, with two men seen inside the vehicle before shots were fired.
Police quickly responded, detaining the driver and launching a significant operation in the area.
The demonstration was being held amidst a high-profile security conference in Munich, where global defense leaders, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, were gathered.
The timing of the incident raised concerns about its potential connection to the political event.
Witnesses described the aftermath as harrowing, with one German journalist, Sandra Demmelhuber, recalling the scene of people lying on the ground, visibly shaken.
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“People were sitting on the ground, crying and shaking. Details still unclear,” Demmelhuber said, describing the scene as one of chaos and confusion.
Ambulances quickly arrived to tend to the injured, and police have since launched an investigation to determine whether the driver acted intentionally or if the incident was caused by a mistake, such as confusing the accelerator with the brake.
One demonstrator recounted seeing a person trapped under the car before police intervened and managed to attend to the victims.
Munich’s Mayor, Dieter Reiter, expressed his shock at the incident, extending his condolences to the victims. “My thoughts are with the injured,” he told reporters.
