A driver drove a vehicle into a group of people near downtown Munich on Thursday, injuring at least 20 people, authorities said. The incident, which occurred around 10.30 am, led to a large-scale police operation near the city's central train station.
German media reported that the accused, identified as a man from Afghanistan, was arrested shortly after the incident. The police had earlier said that the accused was detained and didn't pose any further threat.
However, they did not immediately clarify whether the crash was intentional or an accident. A damaged Mini Cooper was seen at the site, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
Emergency services reported that some of the injured are in serious condition. Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter expressed deep shock over the incident and confirmed that children were among those hurt.
A demonstration by the service workers' union Verdi was taking place at the time, but it remains unclear whether demonstrators were among the victims.
The incident comes just a day before the start of the Munich Security Conference, a major gathering of international leaders and security officials. US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are among the high-profile attendees arriving in the city. Security has been tightened across Munich as authorities continue to monitor the situation.
