Several injured after car drives into group of people in Munich, police say – BBC.com
Source: BBC News
An Afghan asylum seeker drove at a group of people in Munich, police say, injuring at least 28
Officers are treating the incident as a suspected attack – the suspect was known to police for theft and drug offences
Local media have named the 24-year-old suspect as Farhad N. Reports say he came to Germany in 2016 – he had his asylum application rejected, but his deportation was suspended
Police say counter-terrorism officers have taken over the investigation due to indications the suspect has an “extremist background”
The car accelerated before hitting a trade union rally; an officer fired one shot at the suspect before he was arrested, they add
The crash happened hours before the US vice president and Ukrainian president were due to arrive in the city for the Munich Security Conference – but police say they don’t believe it’s related
‘He must leave the country’: Olaf Scholz responds to suspected attack in Munich
Edited by Jenna Moon, with Daniel Wittenberg reporting from Munich
At least 28 people have been injured after an Afghan asylum seeker drove at a crowd of people in Munich, police say.
People had been gathering at a trade union rally when the car accelerated in their direction. An officer fired one shot at the suspect before he was arrested – he was injured, but sustained no gunshot wounds.
Police say no other people are known to have been involved.
The suspect – named locally as 24-year-old Farhad N – came to Germany in 2016, according to reports. He had his asylum application rejected, but his deportation was suspended.
Counter-terrorism police have taken over the investigation due to indications that the suspect has an “extremist background”, say police. BBC Verify has been looking into his social media presence.
The attack comes as the city prepares to host the Munich Security Conference this weekend. Authorities do not believe this incident is related to the event.
And, with just 10 days to go before a national election, the profile of the suspect will add to an already fevered debate about migration, writes the BBC Berlin correspondent Damien McGuinness.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, alongside other politicians, has responded harshly to the incident.
“This perpetrator cannot hope for any leniency. He must be punished and he must leave the country,” Scholz told reporters.
We’re now pausing our live coverage now. You can keep up with the latest updates in our main story.
This page was written from London by Asya Robins, Ruth Comerford, and me. Daniel Wittenberg, Damien McGuinness, Jessica Parker and Kristina Volk reported from Germany. The editors were Owen Amos and Emily Atkinson.
Photos have been coming through to our London newsroom throughout the day, showing scenes from Munich as they unfolded.
We’ve rounded up five key photos illustrating the day.
Police examine the wreck of the white Mini Cooper involved in the attack
Police secure the area and ambulances rush to the scene
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, Munich mayor Dieter Reiter, Bavarian interior Minister Joachim Herrmann and public sector workers union Verdi’s leader Frank Werneke pay their respects
Candles are lit at the makeshift memorial scene. One inscribed with the message “our thoughts are with you”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz gives a statement, saying the perpetrator can “not expect any leniency” from German authorities
Germany has reportedly taken in over 30,000 vulnerable Afghans since the Taliban took over
their home country in 2021. Many now live in Munich.
Some that I spoke to there condemned the suspected attack, but also expressed concern about its impacts on their
daily life.
Miwand
Khan has been living in the outskirts of Munich for 10 years. âI strongly
condemn the [suspected] attack. Such incidents will surge anger in the community toward us,
while it is individual act,” he says.
With Germany just a week away from a national election, some Afghans believe the suspected attack
will pave the way for the far-right to take a tougher stance on migrants.
Momozai, who has lived in Munich for more than three decades, says: âSome parties are already
against the migrants. This [suspected] attack, in a time while the Munich [Security] Conference is
being held, will make them take harder lines against refugees.â
Germany became the first ever EU country to deport Afghans after the
Taliban swept to power, but this suspected attack will force the German authorities to take further action.
Police say they have indications that the driver of the car that rammed into a Munich protest could have “extremist” tendencies.
The suspect came to Germany in 2016 from Afghanistan. His application for asylum was rejected, but he was given permission to stay in Germany.
With just 10 days to go before a national election, the profile of the suspect will add to an already fevered debate about migration.
A number of attacks linked to migrants over the last year have led to increased support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) p
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