Two people have died and more than 20 others were injured after a car drove into a crowd in central Leipzig, causing a large emergency response and a police investigation into the incident.
Authorities said the vehicle struck pedestrians on Grimmaische Strasse, a busy shopping street near Augustusplatz, on Monday afternoon. The driver attempted to leave the scene but was later arrested by police.
Leipzig mayor Burkhard Jung confirmed the fatalities and said the suspect had been apprehended.
“We are shocked. I can only express my solidarity with the victims’ families,” he said at the scene, according to local media.
Emergency services reported that at least 22 people were injured, including two in a serious condition. Leipzig fire chief Axel Schuh said around 40 firefighters and 40 paramedics were deployed, along with two rescue helicopters.
Police said the vehicle hit several people before continuing through the pedestrian area. Radio Leipzig reported that the car travelled at speed through the zone, while witnesses cited by MDR said it covered a distance of several hundred metres before stopping.
Local reports identified the vehicle as a Volkswagen SUV. Witnesses described a damaged car moving through the pedestrian street, with some accounts stating a person was seen on top of the vehicle during the incident, according to Reuters.
Police said there was no longer any immediate danger to the public following the arrest. The motive for the incident remains unclear.
HT
