At Least 28 Injured in Munich Demonstration Attack

A driver rammed a car into a labor union demonstration in central Munich on Thursday, injuring at least 28 people, including children. Authorities have described the incident as a suspected attack.

Incident Overview

The suspect, a 24-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker, was arrested at the scene. The attack occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. as participants in a service workers’ union ver.di demonstration marched along a street. The vehicle overtook a police escort, accelerated, and plowed into the group. Officers apprehended the suspect after firing a shot at the car. A damaged Mini and debris, including shoes, were seen at the scene.

Suspect and Investigation

Bavaria’s state interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, revealed that the suspect was known to authorities for previous theft and drug-related offenses. However, officials have not yet determined a specific motive, though they believe the protest was targeted at random. The state’s justice minister, Georg Eisenreich, confirmed that a prosecutors’ department specializing in extremism and terrorism is handling the case.

Bavarian Governor Markus Söder expressed solidarity with the victims, stating, "We feel with the victims, we are praying for the victims — we hope very much that they all make it." He also emphasized that the circumstances suggest an attack.

Context of Recent Violence

This incident follows a series of violent attacks in Germany involving immigrants. Three weeks ago, an Afghan whose asylum application was rejected allegedly killed a 2-year-old boy and a man in a knife attack in Aschaffenburg. Other recent attacks include incidents in Mannheim and Solingen last year, both involving immigrant suspects. In December, a Saudi doctor drove into a Christmas market crowd in Magdeburg.

Political Repercussions

The attacks have intensified political debates on migration ahead of Germany’s February 23 election. The conservative opposition and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party are calling for stricter immigration policies, increased deportations, and stronger border controls. Söder stressed, "This is not the first such act ... Something must change in Germany, and quickly."

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel criticized the government's stance, demanding immediate migration policy changes. Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended his administration’s measures to curb irregular migration and enforce deportations. Scholz reaffirmed that criminals would face severe consequences, including deportation, stating, "Anyone who commits crimes in Germany ... must expect that he cannot continue his stay here."

Security Measures

The attack occurred just a day before the three-day Munich Security Conference, an international event on foreign and security policy. While authorities do not currently see a link between the attack and the conference, investigations continue into the suspect’s motivations.

This latest attack adds to mounting concerns over security and migration policy in Germany, fueling tensions ahead of the national election.