A car rammed into pedestrians in Mannheim’s central square on Monday, killing at least two people and injuring several others. The suspect, a 40-year-old German man, was arrested after the incident.
Police said the attack was not politically motivated and did not appear to be an act of terrorism. However, they are investigating the motive behind the vehicle’s sudden acceleration into the crowd.
The incident occurred on Paradeplatz, near a carnival market, at around noon. The Mannheim University Hospital activated its emergency plan in case of a mass casualty incident.
Several cities across Germany held parades to mark the start of the carnival season, but one parade was canceled after German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser withdrew from it due to her involvement in the incident.
The government has expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was “deeply shocked” by the attack, while Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz called on the country to become a safer place again.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-2-dead-several-injured-in-mannheim-car-ramming/a-71812278