A 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker has been taken into police custody after driving a car into a union demonstration in central Munich on Thursday, injuring at least 28 people, including children.
Bavarian Governor Markus Söder stated that authorities suspect an attack, though it remains unclear whether the driver intentionally plowed into the crowd.
As reported by Times of Israel, the incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. during a demonstration by the service workers' union Verdi in a public square near downtown Munich.
Police reported that a damaged Mini Cooper was found at the scene, surrounded by debris, including discarded shoes.
German police confirmed on social media that the suspect had been detained and no longer posed a threat. However, they did not comment on whether the crash was accidental or deliberate.
According to Bild newspaper, investigators will need to determine whether the driver intentionally drove into the crowd or mistakenly accelerated instead of braking.
The Bavarian capital is already under increased security ahead of the Munich Security Conference, which begins on Friday. The event will host high-profile leaders, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The incident took place just 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the security conference venue, further raising concerns as Germany prepares for a federal election next week amid a series of violent attacks.
Authorities have set up a witness gathering point at Loewenbraeukeller, one of Munich’s oldest beer halls, as part of their investigation.
