An Afghan man involved in the attack is under investigation following alarming admissions connecting him to extremist ideologies.
Jihadist Motives Explored in Shocking Munich Car Attack
Jihadist Motives Explored in Shocking Munich Car Attack
Prosecutors reveal potential religious motivations behind the recent attack that injured dozens in Munich.
The article text:
An Afghan suspect, detained for driving into a crowd in Munich and injuring 36 individuals, has admitted to the act, with prosecutors suggesting a religious motivation could be at play. Gabriele Tilmann, the Munich public prosecutor, reported that the suspect uttered "Allahu Akbar" upon his detention, leading officials to consider a potential Islamist motive behind the attack.
Tragically, a two-year-old girl is among those critically injured in the car-ramming incident, which took place near Munich's central station on Thursday. Eight additional victims sustained serious injuries, with the casualty count comprising 32 males and four females. The violent incident unfolded just ten days prior to Germany's federal elections, which have already been overshadowed by previous attacks linked to immigrant backgrounds. Notably, two past attackers were of Afghan ethnicity.
In the wake of the attack, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the site and expressed that "the brutality of this act upsets us and leaves us stunned." Police chief Guido Limmer indicated the 24-year-old suspect, identified as Farhad N, was interrogated for around two hours post-incident. During the questioning, he disclosed that he had intentionally driven his Mini Cooper into the crowd, which was gathered for a trade union demonstration at the time.
Farhad N is anticipated to appear in court later today. He holds no prior criminal record, and officials have found no evidence linking him to any jihadist organization. Preliminary assessments indicate the suspect acted independently. He arrived in Germany seeking asylum in 2016, but despite a denied application, he was permitted to remain in the country with a valid residence and work permit. The attack coincided with the eve of the Munich Security Conference, and US Vice-President JD Vance extended condolences to the injured on his arrival in the city. Initial claims regarding the suspect's involvement in shoplifting were clarified; he served as a store detective and has witnessed incidents in shoplifting trials rather than being an alleged offender himself.
An Afghan suspect, detained for driving into a crowd in Munich and injuring 36 individuals, has admitted to the act, with prosecutors suggesting a religious motivation could be at play. Gabriele Tilmann, the Munich public prosecutor, reported that the suspect uttered "Allahu Akbar" upon his detention, leading officials to consider a potential Islamist motive behind the attack.
Tragically, a two-year-old girl is among those critically injured in the car-ramming incident, which took place near Munich's central station on Thursday. Eight additional victims sustained serious injuries, with the casualty count comprising 32 males and four females. The violent incident unfolded just ten days prior to Germany's federal elections, which have already been overshadowed by previous attacks linked to immigrant backgrounds. Notably, two past attackers were of Afghan ethnicity.
In the wake of the attack, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the site and expressed that "the brutality of this act upsets us and leaves us stunned." Police chief Guido Limmer indicated the 24-year-old suspect, identified as Farhad N, was interrogated for around two hours post-incident. During the questioning, he disclosed that he had intentionally driven his Mini Cooper into the crowd, which was gathered for a trade union demonstration at the time.
Farhad N is anticipated to appear in court later today. He holds no prior criminal record, and officials have found no evidence linking him to any jihadist organization. Preliminary assessments indicate the suspect acted independently. He arrived in Germany seeking asylum in 2016, but despite a denied application, he was permitted to remain in the country with a valid residence and work permit. The attack coincided with the eve of the Munich Security Conference, and US Vice-President JD Vance extended condolences to the injured on his arrival in the city. Initial claims regarding the suspect's involvement in shoplifting were clarified; he served as a store detective and has witnessed incidents in shoplifting trials rather than being an alleged offender himself.
