Afghan asylum-seeker driver plows into Munich crowd in Germany

MUNICH, Germany,— At least 28 people were injured Thursday when a 24-year-old Afghan Muslim asylum seeker drove a car into a crowd in Munich, an act that authorities suspect was a deliberate attack. The incident occurred just as the city prepared to host a major international security conference.

The suspect, Farhad N., was taken into custody at the scene. According to Bavarian officials, the man had prior encounters with law enforcement for theft and drug-related offenses.

The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. when demonstrators from the service workers’ union ver.di were marching along a street. A police vehicle was escorting the gathering when the suspect’s car suddenly accelerated, overtook the police vehicle, and rammed into the back of the group, police said.

Officers stopped the driver by firing at his vehicle before making the arrest, Deputy Police Chief Christian Huber told reporters. At least 28 people were hurt, including some in serious condition. Images from the scene showed a damaged Mini Cooper surrounded by debris, including scattered shoes.

Bavarian Governor Markus Söder described the incident as “terrible” and suggested it was likely intentional. “It is likely an attack—there are many indications pointing to that,” Söder told reporters.

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter expressed deep shock over the incident and confirmed that children were among those injured.

Afghan Muslim asylum-seeker Farhad kills two in Munich, Germany — Afghan Muslim asylum-seeker Farhad N., the driver who plowed into a crowd in Munich, Germany, on February 13, 2025, killing two and injuring 28, later shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) and prayed in front of officers. This photo, likely taken in 2024, shows him with the car that he later used in the attack. Photo: X

The attack comes amid heightened tensions over immigration policy in Germany, just weeks before the country’s February 23 election. In recent months, a series of violent incidents linked to immigrants has put migration at the center of political debate.

Three weeks ago, a two-year-old boy and a man were fatally stabbed in Aschaffenburg, also in Bavaria. Authorities identified the suspect as an Afghan national whose asylum application had been rejected.

Similar knife attacks occurred last year in Mannheim and Solingen, allegedly carried out by immigrants from Afghanistan and Syria. In December, a Saudi national rammed a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg.

The conservative opposition, including Söder, has pushed for stricter immigration policies, calling for tighter border controls and increased deportations. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), currently polling second behind the conservatives, has also made migration a central campaign issue.

“This is more evidence that we cannot simply go from one attack to the next, express dismay, and thank the police,” Söder said. “Germany needs change, and it needs to happen without delay.”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s center-left government has defended its handling of migration, stating that efforts to curb irregular entry are already underway.

Scholz called the latest incident “really terrible” and warned that those committing crimes would face deportation where possible.

“Those who commit crimes in Germany will face not only harsh punishment and imprisonment but also the likelihood of being deported,” Scholz stated.

Mother and Child Die from Injuries After Munich Car Attack

A 37-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter have died from injuries sustained in the attack, German police confirmed on Saturday. They are the first fatalities from the incident.

Munich Car Attack May Have Religious Motive, Say Prosecutors

German federal prosecutors announced on Friday that they suspect the attack may have been religiously motivated and intended to destabilize Germany’s democratic system. As a result, the case has been taken over by federal authorities.

“There is reason to believe the act was religiously motivated and aimed at attacking the free democratic order,” the federal prosecutor’s office stated. Meanwhile, the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office continues its own investigation.

While urging caution against premature conclusions, senior prosecutor Tilmann suggested that available evidence points to an Islamist motive.

Police officers fired at the suspect’s vehicle during the attack but did not hit him. According to authorities, the suspect later shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is greatest”) and prayed in front of officers.

(With files from AP | Agencies)