Munich Car Attack: Prosecutors Cite Islamist Motivation in Crowd Assault

Prosecutors in Munich have revealed that an Afghan man, arrested for driving into a crowd and injuring 36 individuals, allegedly acted with Islamist motivations, shouting "Allahu Akbar" during his detention. The attack, near Munich central station, has heightened concerns as Germany approaches federal elections.

An Afghan man has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately driving his Mini Cooper into a crowd in Munich, resulting in injuries to 36 people. Prosecutors have noted that the suspect, who is 24, expressed a clear religious motivation for his actions during his arrest. Munich public prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann reported that the man shouted "Allahu Akbar" at the time of his detention, and described the incident as being "Islamist motivated."

Among the injured, a two-year-old girl remains in critical condition as police confirmed that eight others sustained serious injuries. The attack took place during a trade union protest near the Munich central station, only ten days before the upcoming federal elections. This event has raised alarm over a series of similar incidents involving immigrants, with previous attackers linked to Afghanistan.

Following the attack, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the site, expressing profound shock at the brutality of the event. Police chief Guido Limmer reported that the suspect, identified as Farhad N, was interrogated for two hours and admitted to intentionally driving into the protestors. Despite his actions, authorities confirmed that he had no criminal record, and there was no evidence linking him to organized jihadist groups.

Farhad N arrived in Germany in 2016; although his asylum application was denied, he held a valid residency and work permit at the time of the attack. The incident occurred just before the Munich Security Conference, prompting condolences from global leaders, including US Vice-President JD Vance. Initial reports suggested the suspect had a history of shoplifting, but it was confirmed that he worked as a store detective and served as a witness in shoplifting cases rather than as an offender.