German authorities confirmed that a car-ramming incident in Mannheim on Monday, which resulted in two fatalities, was a deliberate attack. However, it appears not to be politically or religiously motivated.
Police reported that the victims included an 83-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man, while eleven others sustained injuries in the incident.
During a press conference, police stated that the suspect intentionally targeted individuals at high speed, initially leading responders to believe they were dealing with a traffic accident.
Public prosecutor Romeo Schüssler noted that there is “concrete evidence” pointing to the suspect suffering from a psychological illness. Police conducted a search of the suspect’s residence on Monday.
The suspect, a 40-year-old German national from the nearby Rhineland-Palatinate, was arrested after a comprehensive manhunt was launched in the city center shortly after the incident occurred around midday local time (6 a.m. ET).
“We are all deeply shocked by this heinous attack on peaceful people,” said Mannheim Mayor Christian Specht. “Our thoughts are with the dead and injured, their families and friends.”
Witness Mikla Cela, who works at a restaurant in the city, reported seeing a black car speeding by before hearing screams and seeing a man in a white jacket on the ground.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a prominent political figure, expressed his shock over the event and recent violent occurrences in Germany. “Germany must become a safe country again. We will work towards this with the utmost determination,” Merz stated.
Mannheim University Hospital confirmed three of the injured are receiving urgent care, including a child, while local flower shop owner Ferry Overdevest shared that around 30 people sought refuge in his store as ambulances responded to the scene.
Germany has faced a series of deadly car ramming incidents in recent months, including a December attack in Magdeburg, which claimed six lives, and a February incident in Munich that killed a mother and her child.
The attack in Mannheim coincides with “Rose Monday,” a day of carnival celebrations held prior to Ash Wednesday. Despite heightened police presence for these festivities, the recent tragedy has led some local forces to implement additional security measures. The police in Ulm, southeast of Mannheim, have reported a noticeable increase in patrols around carnival events.
Credit: CNN
