Car Speeds into Group of People at Demonstration in Munich

In Munich, a car drove into a group of people on Thursday morning. At least 28 people were injured, including those with serious and critical injuries, and for some, it cannot be ruled out that they are in life-threatening condition, according to the fire department and police. Munich's Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) said that children were also among the injured. "I am deeply shocked," he said. "My thoughts are with the injured."

Car Plows Into Group of People in Munich: Suspect is Asylum Seeker

The driver was detained. "At the moment, there is no further danger from him," said the spokesperson. "We have no reason to believe that there is a danger to the public." Police officers fired a shot at his car to stop him, explained the police. Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) assumes a "suspected attack." According to police, the suspect is a 24-year-old asylum seeker from Afghanistan.

The suspect is said to have posted a presumably Islamist message before the act. According to information from the German Press Agency, he shared corresponding content on social networks. "Der Spiegel" had previously reported on the suspect's allegedly Islamist posts. According to Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU), the young man was known to the police. The asylum seeker had been noticed for shoplifting and violations of the Narcotics Act. The Afghan came to Germany as an asylum seeker, but his asylum application was "apparently" rejected. At the same time, it was determined that "he cannot currently be deported and therefore was allowed to remain in our country."

Herrmann criticized that for years - even against his long-standing demands - there had been no deportations to Afghanistan at all. Only once had the German government ordered the deportation of the most serious criminals. Therefore, thousands of Afghans with rejected asylum applications have not been deported so far. However, many applications have also been approved. Bavaria's Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich said the Bavarian Central Office for Extremism and Terrorism of the General Prosecutor's Office is investigating. It later saw "indications of an extremist background." Söder announced consequences. "We respond to every such attack calmly, but I also tell you that our determination is growing. It is not the first case, and who knows what will happen next," said Söder. "We cannot go from attack to attack and show concern (...), but we must actually change something."

Verdi Union Demonstration Affected

The incident occurred in the area of the intersection between Dachauer Straße and Seidlstraße in the city center near Munich's main train station. There are traffic disruptions around the site of the operation. "Avoid the area widely so that the emergency services can work unhindered."

According to local media reports, a car is said to have driven into a demonstration march of the union ver.di. Ver.di chief Frank Werneke expressed his dismay. "It is not yet clear whether there are any fatalities," Werneke stated in Berlin.

Warning strikes are taking place in Munich on Thursday. Additionally, there is an increased state of alert due to the Munich Security Conference, which lasts until the weekend and begins on Friday. Among others, US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected on Thursday.

Katzian: Attack on Unions is an Attack on Democracy

Wolfgang Katzian, President of the ÖGB and also of the EGB (European Trade Union Confederation), stated in a release: "If it turns out that this rampage was a targeted act of violence, it is clearly to be condemned. Attacks on free unions are attacks on democracy." The shock over "this terrible event" in the European trade union family is great.

FPÖ General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz also reacted with dismay to the events in Munich - coupled with the demand on the responsible politicians and parties for a "long overdue change of course" in their "completely wrong asylum and migration policy."

(APA/Red)

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