Germany vows further Afghan deportations after Munich car ramming
Nearly 30 people were injured after the car was driven into a crowd in the centre of Munich on Thursday morning. Police arrested the 24-year-old driver at the scene.
The carnage came on the eve of an international security conference in the Bavarian city and amid a heated debate in Germany on immigration ahead of February 23rd elections following similar attacks.
The Mini Cooper car barrelled into a trade union demonstration, leaving victims and their belongings scattered. Shoes, glasses and an infant stroller were left in the street.
Munich mayor Dieter Reiter said a number of people were being treated for severe injuries and were in a "life-threatening condition".
Local media reported that children were among the victims.
Politicians have been vowing to take action following the suspected attack.
Conservative chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, who is frontrunner in the elections, said: "Everyone must feel safe in our country again. Something has to change in Germany."
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, of the SPD, condemned the "awful" attack and promised severe consequences.
"From my point of view it is quite clear: this attacker cannot count on any mercy, he must be punished and he must leave the country," Scholz told reporters on Thursday.
The CDU/CSU alliance, which polls suggest is on track to win this month's election, has called for tougher curbs on immigration after similar attacks involving migrants.
Under pressure even months before the election was called, Chancellor Scholz's government had moved to make asylum rules stricter and speed up deportations, including to Afghanistan.
In August the German government sent back the first Afghans to their home country since the Taliban government's return to power in 2021. It had faced pressure then following a deadly knife attack allegedly committed by a Syrian man.
No other deportations have been carried out.
While visiting Munich on Thursday, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said: "We have to continue with deportations... even to Afghanistan, a very difficult country.
"We will try to do everything to achieve this."
'Indications of extremism'
The authorities have "indications of an extremist motive" and the investigation had been handed over to the regional prosecutor's office, police said.
News outlet Der Spiegel, citing security sources, reported that the man was believed to have posted Islamist content online before the attack.
The suspect was said to have arrived in Germany in 2016 at the height of the mass migrant influx to Europe.
His asylum request was rejected by German authorities but he found work and was able to remain legally in the country, according to officials.
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