A quiet afternoon in the German city of Mannheim turned tragic on Monday when a driver intentionally drove his car into a crowd of people. The shocking incident left two people dead and 11 others injured, five of them seriously.
The driver, a 40-year-old German man from the neighboring state of Rhineland-Palatinate, was quickly detained. He had injured himself and was taken to a hospital, according to authorities. As of now, officials say there’s no sign that the attack was motivated by extremist or religious beliefs. Instead, they believe the driver’s personal issues may have played a role.
After being arrested, the driver reportedly shot himself in the mouth and required immediate medical treatment. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that he may have underlying psychological problems. Police and prosecutors have confirmed that he’s under investigation for murder and attempted murder.
The attack happened in Paradeplatz, a bustling pedestrian area in downtown Mannheim, right around lunchtime. Because a local carnival market was taking place, the area was even busier than usual, adding to the devastation. In the aftermath, the scene was filled with emergency responders and a heavily damaged black car, which was quickly cordoned off by police.
Among the injured were two adults and a child being treated at Mannheim University Hospital. Other victims were rushed to different hospitals across the region for care.
Germany has seen a disturbing rise in car-ramming attacks over the past year. In May, a mother and her 2-year-old daughter died after being struck during a union demonstration in Munich. And last year, a deadly attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg left six people dead and more than 200 injured.
As the country reels from yet another senseless act of violence, political leaders have expressed their sorrow and called for action. Likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz urged for stronger measures to prevent such tragedies, while outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz mourned alongside the victims’ families.
With investigations still ongoing, the people of Mannheim — and the entire nation — are left searching for answers and hoping for peace.
