A 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker has been charged with murder after driving a car into a trade union demonstration in Munich, injuring at least 30 people, including children. The incident occurred on Thursday during a strike by public sector workers, with about 1,500 people present. Police have described it as a suspected attack.
The suspect, identified only as Farhad N, arrived in Germany seeking asylum in December 2016. He was known to police for theft and drug offences, but Bavaria's interior minister later corrected this, stating he had no criminal record and was living legally in Germany. The suspect had worked in retail security and served as a witness in police investigations.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack as 'terrible' and pledged a 'no-tolerance' policy. 'This assailant cannot expect any leniency. He must be punished and then leave the country,' Scholz said. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz called for decisive law and order, while Alice Weidel of the far-right AfD blamed Bavarian authorities for failing to deport the suspect.
The attack has inflamed tensions ahead of Germany's 23 February election, which has been dominated by security and immigration concerns. The Munich Security Conference, starting Friday, will proceed with heightened security, though authorities do not believe the car ramming was linked to the event.
News website Spiegel reported that the suspect had posted Islamist content on social media before the incident. The trial is expected to focus on the murder charges and the suspect's motives.
