Munich [Germany], February 14: A driver crashed his car into a trade union march making its way through the streets of Munich in what authorities believe was a deliberate attack late on Thursday morning, leaving at least 28 injured.
The suspected attacker, who has been identified as a 24-year-old Afghan citizen, was quickly captured by police officers who had been accompanying the demonstration near Stiglmaierplatz in central Munich, according to a senior Munich police official, Christian Huber.
Officers fired at least one shot at the suspect before managing to arrest him, according to police and witnesses.
The driver sped past a police vehicle that was accompanying the rear of the demonstration and crashed into the crowd, according to Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann.
Some of those struck suffered life-threatening injuries, Herrmann said. Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter said he had been informed that children were among those injured.
"I am deeply shocked," Reiter said. "My thoughts are with the injured." "A serious attack has taken place in Munich," said Bavarian state Premier Markus Soder in a post on X made after visiting the scene of the crash.
Based on reports from police officers accompanying the rally, as well as other witnesses, "we must assume that it was not an accident, but that he acted deliberately," Hermann said. He added that authorities do not currently believe that the suspect had accomplices.
He credited police officers who were accompanying the march with reacting quickly to prevent further possible injuries.
Following the attack, police raided a flat in the Munich district of Solln where the suspect is believed to have lived, DPA has learned.
Police and prosecutors declined to immediately comment on the search.
The 24-year-old asylum seeker from Afghanistan had previously come to the notice of the German police for shoplifting and violations of the Narcotics Act, Herrmann said.
Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged a tough response to the attack, saying on Thursday afternoon that "this perpetrator cannot count on any leniency. He must be punished and he must leave the country."
Scholz also expressed his deep sorrow, expressed his thoughts for those injured and their families and spoke of a "terrible attack."
"It must be very clear that the judiciary will take tough action against this perpetrator with all the means at its disposal," said Scholz.
"Anyone who commits crimes in Germany will not only be severely punished and sent to prison, but must also expect that they will not be able to continue their stay in Germany."
Source: Qatar Tribune
