At least two people were killed and around 20 others injured when a car drove into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig on Friday, authorities said. The incident occurred on Grimmaische Street, a shopping street near St. Nicholas Church and the University of Leipzig.

Police said the suspect, a 33-year-old German male, was apprehended inside the vehicle after it came to a stop. “The driver has been arrested; there is currently no further danger from him,” they stated.

German tabloid Bild reported that the vehicle, a VW Taigo, had been traveling at high speed. Emergency services including ambulances, police cars, fire engines and a helicopter responded to the scene.

Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung confirmed the preliminary death toll, saying: “It's shocking. All I can do right now is express my solidarity with the victims' families.” Saxony state premier Michael Kretschmer condemned the “suspected rampage,” adding: “This shakes me to the core.”

Emergency services set up a support center at the nearby Gewandhaus concert hall and encouraged eyewitnesses to come forward. Some shops and restaurants in the area have closed. An investigation is underway.

Source: www.dw.com