Car Attack in Munich: A Likely Terrorist Attack Leaves 28 Injured

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, a Mini Cooper crashed into a group of protesters in Munich, Germany, injuring 28 people, two of them seriously. The attack took place in a district where a demonstration organized by the Verdi union was being held. The police quickly intervened and apprehended the driver on the spot after firing a shot at the vehicle. The individual no longer poses any danger.

According to initial statements from the authorities, this is most likely a terrorist attack. The Minister-President of Bavaria, Markus Söder, stated that several elements pointed in that direction. The suspect is a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, already known to the police for theft-related offenses. However, investigators have yet to determine whether this was a premeditated act.

The attack occurred just hours before the opening of the Munich Security Conference, a diplomatic summit bringing together international leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. According to Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, no direct link has been established between the incident and the event.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the horrific act and announced that the suspect, once convicted, would be expelled from the country. This incident comes amid a tense electoral context, with less than two weeks to go before Germany’s federal elections on February 23, where immigration and security are dominating the campaign. Polls predict a significant rise in support for the far-right, which could exceed 20% of the vote.

Local authorities have set up a psychological support center for victims and witnesses and have launched a call for testimony to reconstruct the events. The investigation is ongoing to determine the suspect’s motivations and whether he acted alone.