The Daily Star Ireland
A car attack in Munich left 28 injured, including children, after a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker drove a white Mini Cooper into a crowd at the site of a labor union protest. Authorities suspect the act was intentional, fueling political tensions ahead of Germany’s federal election on February 23.
The attack came just days before the Munich Security Conference, which hosts world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to discuss global security matters.
Vehicle Speeds into Crowd, Suspect Detained
The vehicle made its way through police vehicles before accelerating and hitting multiple individuals who were present at a workers’ strike protest, police reports indicate.
A shot was fired at the vehicle, but it is unclear if the suspect was struck. The driver, known to police for previous drug and theft offenses, was arrested right away. His motive is still under investigation.
Premier of Bavaria, Markus Söder, stated that the attack was most likely intentional. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann stated that the suspect had already had contact with the police, though not for violent crimes.
Security Concerns and Recent Attacks
The attack comes amid heightened fears over public safety following recent violent attacks in Germany.
– Six individuals were murdered in an assault on a Christmas market in Magdeburg in December 2024.
– Last month, a toddler and an adult were stabbed to death in Aschaffenburg.
– Immigrants were implicated in both assaults, further fueling the immigration and security policy debate.
Political Fallout and Immigration Debate
With Germany’s national election looming, the attack has intensified arguments on immigration and national security.
Center-right conservative candidate Friedrich Merz promised to tighten law enforcement if elected.
“We will enforce law and order. Everyone must feel safe in our country again. Something has to change in Germany,” Merz wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Merz has consistently accused Chancellor Olaf Scholz of being too lenient on immigration policy and recently gained parliamentary support for asylum reforms with votes from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The AfD, currently polling in second place, exploited the suspect’s asylum status to renew its calls for stricter immigration control.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel tweeted: “Should this go on forever? Migration turnaround now!”
Chancellor Scholz Calls for Harsh Punishment
Chancellor Olaf Scholz strongly condemned the attack and promised harsh punishment for the perpetrator.
“He must be punished, and he must leave the country,” Scholz told Focus Online in an interview.
He also clarified that Germany must take decisive legal action if the attack is determined to be intentional.
Eyewitness Testimonies and Consequences
Hours after the incident, the street was still covered with personal belongings, including clothing, bags, and eyeglasses.
One witness, Alexa Graef, described the moment the car plowed through the crowd, saying it was intentional.
“I was shocked. It looked intentional. I hope I never see anything like this again,” she said.
Another witness reported seeing a person pinned beneath the car and recalled the car speeding before the impact.
A bystander who watched from an office window described the car deliberately weaving through police escort vehicles before speeding into the crowd.
Though the attack occurred on the eve of the Munich Security Conference, the authorities have stated that they do not discern any connection between the attack and the top-level conference.
As world leaders are to meet for the conference, and a federal election in Germany is just days away, the attack has reopened debates about public security, immigration policy, and national security, and will most probably overshadow the final days of the political campaign.
