Two killed and many injured after car driven into crowd in…
Two people are dead and several others injured after a car drove into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig on Monday afternoon, local authorities said. Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung said the suspected perpetrator – who authorities have confirmed is a 33-year-old German citizen – was arrested.
Police confirmed a car had struck several people in the central Grimmaische Straße area before driving off. Authorities said 22 people were injured, including three seriously.
We are currently mourning two deaths, three people with serious injuries and many others who have been injured," Jung said. "It is impossible to find the right words to describe this horrific rampage." Lepzig police spokesperson, Susanne Luebcke, said that at about 17:35 (15:35 GMT) "a person drove a vehicle across Augustusplatz into Grimmaische Street, continuing on past the market".
They said passersby went to administer first aid and about 15 people gathered around the car to apprehend the driver and tried to drag him out through an open window. The people who died were also older people… It is bad." Manuela, another local, told the BBC that the community is "shocked and frightened that something like this could happen".
Analysis: Why This Matters
Watching how Grimmaische Stra evolves is important: international stories tend to set the tone for the news cycle ahead.
Key Takeaways
- One eyewitness, Susi, told Radio Leipzig that she was with her friend on a bench on Grimmaische Straße at the time of the incident.
- Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung said the suspected perpetrator – who authorities have confirmed is a 33-year-old German citizen – was arrested.
- Two people are dead and several others injured after a car drove into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig on Monday afternoon, local authorities said.
Diplomatic and on-the-ground responses are likely in the days ahead — we'll track them closely.
Source: BBC World