Two people were killed and several others injured when a car drove into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig on Monday afternoon, local authorities said. The suspected perpetrator, a 33-year-old German citizen, was arrested, according to Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung, who added that the motive was not yet clear.
Police confirmed that the car struck several people in the central Grimmaische Straße area before fleeing. Authorities reported 22 injured, including three in serious condition. Saxony state leader Michael Kretschmer said the suspect had previously suffered from mental illness.
“We are utterly stunned by what has happened. A man has driven at high speed into the shopping area. We are currently mourning two deaths, three people with serious injuries and many others who have been injured,” Jung said, calling it a “horrific rampage.”
Leipzig police spokesperson Susanne Luebcke stated that at around 17:35 (15:35 GMT), “a person drove a vehicle across Augustusplatz into Grimmaische Street, continuing on past the market.” She confirmed two fatalities and described the incident as a “case of violent rampage.” Police believe it was the act of a lone perpetrator and that there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
Leipzig’s public prosecutor’s office identified the deceased as a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man, both German citizens. The suspect is being investigated for murder and attempted murder. Authorities said there is “no basis on current knowledge” to suggest a religious or political motive.
Eyewitness Susi told Radio Leipzig she heard a “loud bang” and saw the driver going “really fast.” She and her friend took refuge in a jewelry shop. Another witness said the car came to a halt at bollards, a woman fell from the car roof, and about 15 people gathered to apprehend the driver, trying to drag him out through an open window.
Germany has seen a series of car-ramming attacks in recent years. In December 2024, at least six people were killed and over 300 wounded in an attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg. In February 2025, at least 30 people were injured when a car was driven into a crowd in Munich.
Source: www.bbc.com