Authorities have confirmed that all bridges and main roads are currently under police control. The public has been urged to avoid the city center at this time. Video footage captured at Paradeplatz in Mannheim’s central area depicts bystanders outside a section sealed off with police tape, scattered with debris, including a lone shoe. First responders were observed attending to at least one injured individual.
Mannheim, with a population of 326,000, lies approximately 52 miles south of Frankfurt. Reports from the police have not clarified whether the driver in custody intentionally drove into the crowd or if the incident was accidental. The city was bustling with people gathering for an annual German carnival celebration when the tragic event unfolded.
An eyewitness, Manu Brioso, shared with ABC News that he was in a building near Paradeplatz when the vehicle passed by and collided with the crowd. Following the incident, the area was swiftly cordoned off by authorities, preventing individuals from leaving. Brioso recounted a scene of bustling emergency responders comprising police, firefighters, and ambulances upon his eventual exit.
Mannheim University Hospital received an urgent notification at 12:20 p.m. local time about a potential mass casualty incident in downtown Mannheim. The hospital promptly activated its emergency response plan to accommodate the influx of injured victims, including both adults and children, some critically wounded. With the intensive care unit already at capacity, eight trauma teams were mobilized to provide immediate care.
In light of the tragic occurrence, all entrances to the hospital were closed to the public as a security measure. This devastating event comes in the wake of recent intentional car-ramming attacks in Germany, prompting heightened security measures nationwide. One such incident occurred in Munich on Feb. 13, where a 24-year-old suspect deliberately drove into a crowd, resulting in fatalities and numerous injuries. The suspect, Fahad Noori, allegedly expressed religious motivations for his actions.
Additionally, a car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg on Dec. 20 led to five fatalities and approximately 200 injuries. The suspected perpetrator, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi-born individual, was apprehended and charged with multiple offenses, including murder and causing grievous bodily harm.
ABC News’ Joe Simonetti and Zoe Magee have contributed to this comprehensive report on the tragic incident that claimed the lives of two individuals, leaving several others injured.
