Everything we learn about Munich automobile ramming as 28 injured and ‘refugee’ arrested

A 24-year-old asylum seeker from Afghanistan has been arrested by German police who shot a single round at the Mini Cooper – as an adult and a child fight for their life following the ‘attack’

Germany has been shaken to its core by another brutal car ramming “attack” that has left 28 people injured, with and adult and a child fighting for their lives. A white Mini Cooper ploughed into a crowd of protestors on the Dachauer and Seidlstraße junction in Munich’s city centre at 10.30am on Thursday.

The driver of the car has been arrested after one shot was fired by police, it has been confirmed. Earlier reports indicated that a woman had been killed in the chaos but the fatality is yet to be confirmed by official channels.

Multiple children were among those injured, with one in critical condition in what has been described as a “suspected attack”. Bavarian Premier Markus Söder confirmed a 24-year-old Afghan national asylum seeker was arrested at the scene and added that he “presumes” the ramming was “deliberate”.

Here is everything we know about the horrific attack:

Injured protestors

So far, 28 people have been reported injured with a child and an adult said to be in critical condition. The Mini Cooper ploughed into the crowd at 10.30am and emergency responders remain at the scene treating victims.

German police say that the car ‘sped up’ before it ploughed into a large group of protesters. A spokesperson said that the car approached police vehicles at the scene before speeding up and driving at people.

The demonstration was organised by trade union Verdi. Managing director Claudia Weber, 58, told BILD: “It’s all so unbelievable. We are totally shocked and are incredibly afraid for our colleagues who were part of the demonstration.

“We heard that the car drove straight into the demonstration on purpose. Hopefully there will be no fatalities.” The demonstration was part of strike action which saw public facilities such as hospitals, swimming pools and nurserys close.

Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter confirms that “many people were injured, including children.” Pictures from the scene show a buggy lying on the ground close to the Mini Cooper which was driven through crowds early this morning.

An eyewitness on the scene told Bild that the Mini had hit a woman with a child. The demonstrator said: “Mother and child were apparently lying under the car.”

‘Refugee’ arrested

The suspect arrested in relation to the ramming has been confirmed as a 24-year-old Afghan national who seeking asylum. He was previously known to German police in relation to drug and theft incidents.

Images of police arresting a man next to a white Mini Cooper have been circulating online. Two officers are seen restraining a man on the ground in the pictures.

There were reported of two men emerging from the Mini Cooper but German police have not been able to confirm this as true. They did confirm that a single shot was fired at the car amid the chaos.

‘Suspected attack’

Bavarian Premier Markus Söder has said that the incident as now being treated as a “suspected attack” after a car drove into a large crowd of people.

He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “It is simply terrible and hurts so much. A serious attack occurred in München.

“An Afghan citizen drove a car into a crowd and injured many people, some very seriously. We feel for all the victims and pray for the injured and all their families.

“Thank you to the emergency services for their quick and decisive intervention. One thing is clear: we always react prudently – but we are also determined.

“This is not the first attack of this kind. Sympathy and coming to terms with the past are important. But something fundamental has to change in Germany.”

Reaction

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter said in a statement: “The police chief has just informed me that a vehicle drove into a group of people and unfortunately many people were injured, including children. I am deeply shocked. My thoughts are with the injured.

“The police have arrested the driver of the vehicle, but the exact circumstances are currently unclear. I am of course still in close contact with the police chief and am on my way to get an idea of the situation on site.”

The attack comes the day before the Munich Security Conference, a major political event which is set to host discussions between US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following Donald Trump’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The attack is not being treated as related to the conference.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks where cars have been used as weapons against large crowds. In December, a car rammed crowds at Magdeburg Christmas market killing 11 people and injuring at least 80.

Last month, two people including a two-year-old child, were killed when a man went on a stabbing rampage in the Bavarian city of Aschaffenburg in Germany.

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