In brief
On Thursday, a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker drove into a crowd during a union demonstration in Munich, injuring 36 people, including children, as authorities look into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
On Thursday morning, a shocking incident occurred in Munich when a 24-year-old Afghan refugee drove a Mini Cooper into a union demonstration, injuring nearly 40 people. The driver, who has confessed to intentionally crashing into the crowd, is currently under investigation as authorities work to determine whether he acted alone. This violent act took place just ten days prior to federal elections, which had already been marked by heated discussions around migration policies. Around 10:30 a.m., as a police vehicle trailed the union march, the car accelerated from behind and slammed into marchers. Eyewitness accounts describe the moment with a chilling sense of urgency, as they heard the engine roar before the vehicle surged into the gathering. In response to the drive, police fired a shot while attempting to apprehend the suspect. Medical responders, including ambulances and helicopters, rushed to the scene, and the authorities quickly established a temporary command post nearby to gather witness accounts and video evidence of the attack. By evening, the wrecked car had been removed from the scene and taken into police custody.As of Friday, police reported that 36 individuals had sustained injuries due to the attack, with several of them being children. Of particular concern is a 12-year-old girl who sustained severe injuries and remains in intensive care. The affected crowd consisted mainly of union members and their families, gathering for a strike organized by Verdi, one of Germany's largest unions, affecting public sector workers, including those in childcare and garbage collection. Prominent figures such as Bavarian Governor Markus Söder and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the crash site to pay their respects, placing flowers in memory of the victims.
