Mannheim car attack suspect a German with history of mental illness, say investigators
A 40-year-old German from the nearby state of Rhineland-Palatinate has been detained in relation to the car ramming attack on Monday which killed at least two people and injured 10 others.
During a press conference on Monday night, investigators said that the were indications the suspect was mentally ill, with this being the focus of their investigation. He has now been charged with murder and attempted murder, according to Chief Public Prosecutor Romeo Schüssler.
The man has previous convictions, according to Schüssler, including one for drunk driving. He was also convicted of a hate speech-related crime in 2018 after he commented on a picture on Facebook, in what was adjudged to have been a politically motivated right-wing crime.
The suspected perpetrator was taken to hospital after shooting himself in the mouth with a blank gun, according to investigators. He is currently being treated and is in a stable condition.
Local media have reported the man's name is "Alexander S."
The two victims of the attack have been identified as an 83-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man, while the number of injured has risen to 11, up from the previously reported 10.
Friedrich Merz, who is likely to become Germany's next chancellor, wrote on X that 'the incident — as well as the terrible acts of the past few months — is an urgent reminder that we must do everything we can to prevent such acts.' Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote that 'we mourn with the families of the victims of a senseless act of violence."
The perpetrator had at around noon driven into people on Paradeplatz, a pedestrian street in downtown Mannheim. Local media reported a carnival market was taking place, which meant there were more people in the area than usual.
The car used in the apparent attack has since been identified as a dark-coloured or black compact SUV or a similar vehicle. It "raced" at high speed and struck several pedestrians in the main shopping street, according to reports.
Mannheim is a city of about 300,000 people located some 80 kilometres south of Frankfurt.
Several German cities are set to hold parades this week to mark the country's carnival season. While the parade in Mannheim took place on Sunday, the city centre was still bustling with activity on Monday.
Heidelberg, Schwetzingen and Brühl — all in Baden-Württemberg — have cancelled their carnival celebrations on Tuesday.
The incident comes just weeks after two people — a mother and a child — were killed in a car ramming attack in Munich.
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