A suspected car attack in Munich has left at least 28 people injured after a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker drove a Mini Cooper into a crowd during a trade union rally on Thursday morning. Authorities are treating the incident as a deliberate attack, though the motive remains unclear.
The attack took place at approximately 10:30 AM local time on Dachauer Strasse, where members of the Verdi trade union had gathered as part of a public sector strike. The demonstration included workers from various sectors such as hospitals, day-care centers, sanitation services, and public swimming pools. More than 1,000 people were in attendance.
According to police, the suspect accelerated into the rally, knocking over several people. The vehicle was stopped when officers fired a single shot, after which the driver was arrested at the scene. It remains unclear whether he was injured during the operation.
At least 28 individuals sustained injuries, with two reported to be in critical condition. Emergency responders transported the wounded to multiple hospitals across Munich, including a children’s hospital and the Munich Red Cross Clinic. Among those injured were city administration employees and children who had accompanied their parents to the rally.
Munich’s mayor, Dieter Reiter, expressed shock at the incident, calling it a “horrific act” that had particularly devastating consequences given the presence of children.
The alleged attacker, a 24-year-old Afghan national, had been residing in Germany since 2016 after arriving as a minor. His asylum application was rejected in 2017, and he had been ordered to leave the country since 2020. Authorities noted that he had prior criminal offenses, including drug-related charges and theft.
Bavarian state premier Markus Söder stated that the incident was “probably an attack” and vowed to uncover all details surrounding the case. Chancellor Olaf Scholz reinforced this stance, saying, “This perpetrator cannot hope for any leniency and must leave the country.”
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as pedestrians ran for cover. A shop employee reported that people fled into nearby businesses, some visibly distressed and in tears. One student recounted how the driver accelerated into the crowd, striking 10 to 15 people.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, with security concerns heightened due to the ongoing Munich Security Conference attended by international leaders.
