At least 28 injured after attack in Munich after a car has driven into a group of people in Munich, Germany, local police confirmed on Thursday. At least 28 people are said to be injured, some who are in critical condition. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder has said the incident is a “suspected attack.” Find the latest updates below.
Facts we know from the Munich attack
- A car drove into a trade union rally and 28 people have been injured in Munich
- The AfD had a strong presence in the rally despite being anti-union
- The driver was a 24 year old Asylum seeker
- He was a known drug offender
- He was high during the attack
- The car used in the attack did not belong to him
- He acted alone and was alone in Germany
- They are legislative elections on the 23rd of Feb which the AfD are contesting
Afghan asylum seeker
The man has been identified as a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker drove at a group of people in Munich, Germany police say, injuring at least 28
Just before 11:00 on Thursday morning, a man was driving behind a police car and a group of people gathered for a demonstration connected to a strike called by the Verdi trade union. He suddenly accelerated, overtook the police car and drove into a group of demonstrators.
At least 28 people were injured. Several of them are in critical condition and some are in danger of dying, a spokesperson for the local fire department told AFP. Emergency services immediately arrived on the scene to attend to the injured. Some of the victims are children, Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter told German Newspaper Bild.
The driver was detained on site and is no longer considered a threat to the public, Munich police said on X. During the arrest, they fired a shot at the vehicle.
Far-right paying asylum seekers
Officers are treating the incident as a suspected attack – the suspect was known to police for theft and drug offences
“This is not the first attack of its kind,” he added. “It is important to express our condolences and come to terms with what has happened. But fundamental changes also need to be made in Germany.”
There’s growing suspicion in asylum communities and some on social media that the attacker was paid to carry out the attack by the far right. Some people are suggesting that members of the far right are approaching asylum seekers and vulnerable immigrants with offers of cash through intermediaries.
Security conference and elections
The incident comes just a day before the Munich Security Conference. US Vice-President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are among the attendees. Police do not believe the incident is related to the conference.
The “suspected attack” also comes just over a week before the legislative elections of 23 February, in which immigration has emerged as a central political issue, raised by the AfD far right German political party.