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By Hollie Silverman
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At least two people are dead, and 25 others are injured after a car plowed into a crowd in central Leipzig, Germany, on Monday, Radio Leipzig reported. Officials confirmed to the Associated Press that at least two victims suffered severe injuries.
The incident occurred on Grimmaische Strasse, a major pedestrian route that leads into Leipzig’s central shopping district, around 5 p.m. local time.
Officials said the suspect is a 33-year-old German-born resident of the Leipzig area, the AP reported.
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Police spokesperson Susanne Lübcke said the driver stopped the car and was in the vehicle when he was detained.
Prosecutors said a suspect is under investigation on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. There was no immediate word on a possible motive.
The incident comes as political violence has become a focus worldwide, including in the U.S., where vehicle ramming events have occurred in numerous cities in recent years, including highly-visible incidents Charlottesville, Virginia, Minneapolis and New Orleans.
Germany has faced several high‑profile vehicle‑ramming events in recent years. In December 2024, two people died, and 68 others were injured when a car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. Authorities typically respond with heightened caution until the driver’s motive and circumstances are clear.
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What To Know
Armin Schuster, the interior minister of Saxony state, said investigators believe the driver acted alone, AP reported.
Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung told the AP that three people were seriously injured and transported to hospitals from the incident. Schuh added that 20 more people were “affected” but didn't provide further details, the AP reported.
Jung said that no motive is known, but did say “there is no longer any danger...it is under control. The police have caught the suspected perpetrator.”
René Demmler, police chief, said the suspect drove from the Augustusplatz, a major square, along the Grimmaische Strasse into the city’s central pedestrianized shopping area, according to AP.
Radio Leipzig identified the car as a Volkswagen SUV and said it was seen speeding through a pedestrian area before the crash. Witnesses told the station that several bodies were covered with sheets, according to a Reuters report. Images from the scene showed a vehicle with significant front‑end damage and a broken side mirror.
Leipzig, located about 120 miles southwest of Berlin, has a population of more than 630,000, making it one of the largest cities in eastern Germany.
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What Happens Next
Police and state prosecutors are expected to release additional details as they review surveillance footage, interview witnesses, and examine the vehicle. Authorities have not yet said whether they are investigating the crash as an accident, a medical emergency, or a deliberate act.
People who have been affected or witnessed the events can contact the support center in Gewandhaus, a press release from the police said.
Officials described the situation as a developing incident and said more information would be released as it becomes available.
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