At least two people have died, and several others were injured after a car drove into a group of pedestrians in central Mannheim, Germany, according to a police statement reported by Euro News on Monday.
According to the German news agency DPA, one person died at the scene, while another later succumbed to their injuries, raising the death toll to two. Reports indicate that as many as 25 people may be injured.
Witnesses, including a reporter from DPA, saw a body covered with a sheet after the incident, as per Euro News. The driver has been arrested, and police are investigating the scene in the Paradenplatz pedestrian area. Authorities confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public and stated, “no evidence of a second perpetrator.”
Earlier in the day, warning apps reported a life-threatening situation. The Mannheim University Hospital has activated “disaster response” mode, treating at least three seriously injured individuals, including two adults and a child.
Authorities advised the public to avoid downtown Mannheim due to a heavy police presence. A police helicopter was seen flying overhead, and traffic checks were set up on nearby bridges.
The Mannheim police also issued a warning against spreading false information about the incident. They urged people not to share videos of the attack and to rely only on official sources for updates.
The vehicle involved has been identified as a dark-colored or black compact SUV or similar model. Reports suggest the car was speeding and deliberately struck multiple pedestrians in the main shopping area.
Mannheim, a city with around 300,000 residents, is located about 80 kilometers south of Frankfurt.
This incident comes just weeks after a similar car-ramming attack in Munich, where a mother and child were killed. In December, six people were killed, and over 200 were injured when a vehicle plowed into a Christmas market in Magdeburg.