Two Dead, Several Injured as Car Plunges into Crowd in Leipzig, Germany

Leipzig. Two people have died and several others have been injured when a speeding car entered a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig on Monday afternoon. According to local authorities, this tragic incident occurred in the Grimmaische Strasse area in the city center.

Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung informed that a 33-year-old German citizen has been arrested as a suspect. Although the exact motive for the incident is not yet clear, the police have started an investigation.

According to Leipzig Fire Chief Axel Schuka, 22 people were injured in this incident, two of whom are in serious condition. Leipzig police spokesperson Susanne Lübke stated that at around 5:35 PM local time, a person drove a car at high speed through Augustusplatz towards Grimmaische Strasse.

According to Lübke, preliminary investigations so far indicate that this act was carried out by a lone individual. She also clarified that there is no further danger to public safety.

The Leipzig public prosecutor's office has confirmed that the deceased were a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man, both German citizens. The suspect is being investigated for murder and attempted murder. According to officials, current evidence does not indicate any religious or political motive behind the incident. Saxony's state premier Michael Kretschmer stated that the suspect has a history of mental illness.

Eyewitnesses to the incident described a very horrific scene. Speaking to Radio Leipzig, a woman named Susi said, 'We heard a loud noise and saw the driver speeding.' She and her friend took refuge in a nearby jewelry store and saw people lying on the ground when they came out. According to another eyewitness, the car stopped after hitting a pillar, and a woman fell from the roof of the car.

Approximately 15 civilians present at the scene attempted to apprehend the driver. It is reported that as they tried to pull the driver out through the window, the suspect attempted to escape through another window. However, a police team arrived shortly and took him into custody.

Germany has seen a series of such vehicle attacks in recent years. Similar attacks occurred previously at Magdeburg's Christmas market in December 2024 and in Munich last February.