Car plows into Munich crowd ahead of security summit, 28 injured

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer)

A car driven by a 24-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker crashed into a crowd in central Munich, injuring at least 28 people, including children. Authorities suspect the incident was an attack, but the motive remains under investigation.
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. near the city center, just a day before the annual Munich Security Conference, which gathers global leaders to discuss international security issues.
Police have secured the suspect and heightened security measures in Munich, with increased patrols around key locations, including the security conference venue.

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A car drove into a crowd in central Munich on Thursday, Feb. 13, injuring at least 28 people, including children, in what officials called a suspected attack. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. near the city center, just a day before the annual Munich Security Conference, which gathers global leaders to discuss international security issues.

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Authorities identified the driver as a 24-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker. Police secured the suspect at the scene, and officials say he no longer poses a threat. The motive remains under investigation, but Bavarian state officials, including Gov. Markus Söder, said it was likely an attack.

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How did the incident unfold?

According to police, the car, a Mini Cooper, sped up and struck pedestrians near police vehicles that had been stationed for a demonstration by the Verdi union. Witnesses said the vehicle maneuvered between law enforcement vehicles before accelerating into the crowd.

Images from the scene showed scattered belongings, including shoes, a pair of glasses and a stroller.

Who was affected?

Authorities confirmed that 28 people were injured, with at least two in serious condition. Mayor Dieter Reiter said children were among those hurt. Emergency services responded quickly, treating victims at the scene before transporting them to hospitals.

Was the attack linked to the security conference?

The Munich Security Conference is set to begin Friday, Feb. 14, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected to attend. However, Bavaria’s interior minister said there is no known connection between the attack and the high-profile event.

What are officials saying?

Söder described the event as a “suspected attack” but emphasized that authorities are still investigating. Police have not yet determined if the attack was premeditated or whether the driver had any known ties to extremist groups.

The attack comes just 10 days before Germany’s federal elections, heightening security concerns. It also follows a deadly incident in December 2024, when a man drove a truck into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six people and injuring more than 200.

What happens next?

Authorities continue to investigate the suspect’s background and possible motives. Security measures in Munich have been heightened, with law enforcement increasing patrols around key locations, including the security conference venue.

Police have urged the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues. Officials are also setting up a witness center to gather more information about the attack.

Tags: christmas, Europe, European Union, Germany, Terrorist Attack

[craig nigrelli]

AUTHORITIES IN GERMANY ARE INVESTIGATING WHAT THEY CALL A SUSPECTED ATTACK AFTER A CAR PLOWED INTO A CROWD IN CENTRAL MUNICH, INJURING AT LEAST 28 PEOPLE.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 10:30 A.M. LOCAL TIME THURSDAY, JUST A DAY BEFORE THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE, WHERE WORLD LEADERS—INCLUDING U.S. VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE AND UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY—ARE GATHERING TO DISCUSS GLOBAL SECURITY.

OFFICIALS SAY THE DRIVER, IDENTIFIED AS A 24-YEAR-OLD AFGHAN ASYLUM-SEEKER, ACCELERATED INTO A GROUP OF PEDESTRIANS NEAR A POLICE BARRICADE. A UNION DEMONSTRATION WAS HAPPENING NEARBY, BUT IT’S UNCLEAR IF IT WAS TARGETED.

PRESS PHOTOS SHOW A WHITE MINI COOPER AT THE SCENE, WITH DEBRIS SCATTERED ACROSS THE ROAD. OFFICIALS SAY CHILDREN WERE AMONG THE INJURED, AND AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE ARE IN SERIOUS CONDITION.

THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED A THREAT. BAVARIAN GOVERNOR MARKUS SÖDER SAID THE ATTACK IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, THOUGH AUTHORITIES HAVEN’T CONFIRMED A MOTIVE.

THE ATTACK COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER A DEADLY CHRISTMAS MARKET RAMPAGE IN EASTERN GERMANY, WHERE A TRUCK DRIVER KILLED FIVE PEOPLE AND INJURED MORE THAN 200 OTHERS.

SECURITY IS ALREADY TIGHT IN MUNICH AHEAD OF THE HIGH-PROFILE CONFERENCE, WHERE GLOBAL DEFENSE LEADERS ARE SET TO DISCUSS THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND RISING SECURITY THREATS ACROSS EUROPE.

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