Just one day before U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and other international leaders are set to attend a significant security conference in Munich, Germany, a car crashed into a gathering, injuring dozens of people.
Around 10:30 a.m. local time, a man struck pedestrians in the Seidlstraße neighborhood with his automobile, injuring 28 people, according to police in Munich, Germany, who posted the incident on social media. They did not reveal the suspect’s identity, but they did identify him as a 24-year-old male of Afghan nationality.
Officers shot at the automobile while making the arrest, according to a follow-up post from the authorities. They observed that he posed “no further danger” once he was “secured on site.”
At least two persons were gravely hurt in the event, according to a previous statement from the police. Authorities reported that “numerous emergency services” and rescue helicopters were present to assist in the treatment of the injured in that post.
According to NBC News, Bavarian Governor Markus Söder stated at a press conference after the incident that it was being investigated as a potential attack.
“When you learn that someone has hit a crowd with their vehicle once more, ladies and gentlemen, it is just awful. Numerous people are hurt. According to the publication, Söder stated, “It’s a slap in the face.”
The incident occurs the day before a number of heads of state and government are expected to meet at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, February 14. According to NBC News, Vance is one of the people scheduled to speak at the conference.
Although the vice president was unaffected, the U.S. Secret Service told the outlet in a statement that it is “monitoring the incident closely” in advance of the conference. The organization stated: “There was no protective impact to the VP but we are monitoring that incident closely and German authorities are still investigating a potential motive.”
“We were deeply saddened to learn that a tragic incident occurred this morning in the #Munich city center in which a vehicle drove into a crowd of people,” the Munich Security Conference wrote in a statement regarding the incident on X.
They expressed their condolences to the victims and their families. “An investigation is in progress to ascertain the cause of this occurrence, and emergency services are on the site. We urge everyone to maintain composure and heed the authorities’ directions. On its channels, [Munich police] will continuously update the public on the present state of affairs.
