An individual who deliberately drove a car into a crowd in the German city of Mannheim on Monday, resulting in two fatalities, utilized the vehicle as a weapon, stated the state’s interior minister. The driver, a 40-year-old German citizen with reported mental health issues, has been apprehended by the police and is currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital. Thomas Strobl, the interior minister of Baden-Württemberg state, emphasized that this incident is part of a series of recent crimes where cars have been misused as weapons. He confirmed the tragic loss of two lives and the severe injuries sustained by several others. Authorities have ruled out any political or religious motives for the attack. Reports suggest that the car’s owner, who had previously displayed ties to right-wing extremism, may not have been driving during the incident. The suspect reportedly attempted self-harm during the arrest and is currently in critical condition in the hospital. Video footage captured the car, a black Ford, speeding towards Paradeplatz, a popular pedestrian area in Mannheim. Emergency services at Mannheim’s University Hospital are attending to two adults and a child who were struck by the vehicle. The incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened security in Germany due to recent terrorist acts involving knife and car-ramming assaults in public spaces. While the suspect in Mannheim is a German citizen, similar attacks in Magdeburg and Munich are believed to have been carried out by refugees or rejected asylum seekers. German officials, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have expressed condolences for the victims and emphasized the need to prevent such violence. Witnesses described the chaotic scene as the vehicle crashed into people at Paradeplatz, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and causing panic among bystanders. Images of the damaged Ford used in the attack circulated online, showcasing the extent of the destruction. This tragic incident occurred during Germany’s spring carnival season, a period marked by festive events across the country. Recent similar attacks in Munich and Magdeburg have underscored the urgency of addressing security concerns and preventing further harm.
Mannheim experienced a stabbing incident during an anti-Islam rally last May, resulting in the death of a policeman and injuries to five others. That’s all for today. Further updates will be provided soon. Forensic experts are examining a car that crashed into a crowd in Mannheim, Germany. Ten individuals are currently receiving medical treatment for injuries, with five in serious condition and five with minor injuries, according to local authorities. Police in Germany stated that there is no immediate evidence of a political motive in the car incident where a driver struck a crowd, resulting in two fatalities. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the incident as a senseless act of violence. The suspect, a 40-year-old German, has been arrested. The driver, known to have a history of mental illness, drove into a crowd, resulting in two deaths and numerous injuries. The Mannheim University Hospital is providing acute medical care to two adults and a child. Friedrich Merz, the incoming German Chancellor, expressed shock over the incident and extended sympathy to the victims and their families. The death toll has risen to two, with several individuals seriously injured.
Police stated that the vehicle has been apprehended – Shutterstock 02:57 PM GMT. The individual in question is a German citizen who was taken into custody following the incident, as reported by the German news agency DPA. Currently, the suspect is receiving medical treatment at a hospital. At 02:28 PM GMT, footage captured people fleeing the scene of the incident in Mannheim, credit to social media. The location of the event is yet to be confirmed at 02:19 PM GMT. Although authorities have not officially confirmed whether the recent occurrence was an intentional attack or an accident, Germany has been experiencing a series of attacks, often involving cars used as lethal weapons. The country has been plagued with incidents, such as a car driving into a trade union demonstration in Munich last month, resulting in the tragic deaths of a two-year-old girl and her mother. In Magdeburg in December, a car-ramming attack targeted a Christmas market, claiming the lives of six individuals and injuring numerous others. In Solingen in August, a knife attack led to the deaths of three people and the injury of eight more; the perpetrator was suspected to have ties to the Islamic State group. Mannheim was previously the site of a stabbing attack during an anti-Islam rally last May, resulting in the death of a police officer and injuries to five others. At 02:08 PM GMT, forensic experts examined the suspected vehicle believed to have been driven into the crowd. In response to the emergency, Mannheim University Hospital has implemented its “disaster response” plan after declaring a “disaster alert” in the intensive care unit. This included the availability of eight trauma teams for both adult and pediatric care. A witness described the chaotic scene, stating that “all hell broke loose,” with police presence visible everywhere, even on rooftops, and helicopters circling as people fled in panic. The witness further emphasized the abundance of ambulances and cordoned-off areas. The incident occurred when a black SUV sped into a group of individuals traveling from Paradeplatz square towards the water tower in Mannheim, as reported by local media at 01:36 PM GMT. Witnesses observed the driver striking multiple pedestrians on Planken, a pedestrian shopping street. Mannheim, with a population of 300,000, is located south of Frankfurt. One fatality and several injuries were reported, with the suspect already in police custody at 01:16 PM GMT. The occurrence follows closely on the heels of a terror attack in Munich, where a car drove into a crowd, resulting in the deaths of a 37-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter in February. An Afghan asylum seeker named Farhad N was arrested in connection with that incident. Eyewitnesses at a carnival market in Mannheim’s city center expressed shock and confusion over the tragic events.
Reports of fatalities have not been confirmed by authorities as of 12:54 PM GMT. Police in Mannheim have requested the public to remain indoors and steer clear of the downtown area as a precautionary measure, as per the latest update at 12:54 PM GMT. Emergency services and law enforcement personnel are pictured at Paradeplatz in Mannheim, Germany, following a serious incident, as reported at 12:50 PM GMT. Eyewitnesses have reported seeing several individuals lying on the ground, with two individuals undergoing resuscitation efforts, according to a witness who spoke to Reuters at 12:46 PM GMT. A large-scale police operation is currently underway in Mannheim, with reports indicating that all roads and bridges leading out of the city are being scrutinized by authorities, while a helicopter hovers above the city of 300,000 residents, as shared at 12:43 PM GMT. German outlet Bild has indicated that the driver of a black SUV crashed into a crowd in the city center at high speed, resulting in several injuries, some of which are serious, although it remains unclear whether this was an accident or a deliberate attack, reported at 12:40 PM GMT. The Baden-Württemberg interior ministry has issued a warning to the population of a “life-threatening situation” through a notification app, as communicated at 12:35 PM GMT. Witnesses and police confirm that the entire city center of Mannheim has been cordoned off, as disclosed at 12:33 PM GMT. Stay updated with our live coverage of the ongoing situation in Mannheim, Germany, where a significant police operation is unfolding in the city center. Explore a world of award-winning British journalism by experiencing The Telegraph free for 1 month, granting you unlimited access to our acclaimed website, exclusive app, money-saving offers, and more.
