At least two people have been killed and 22 others injured after a car drove into a crowd in the German city of Leipzig, in a shocking incident that has prompted a major police investigation.
Authorities said the vehicle, a Volkswagen SUV, sped through a busy pedestrian shopping street in the city centre before leaving the scene. The incident took place on Grimmaische Straße, a popular commercial area in Leipzig.
Emergency services confirmed that three of the injured are in serious condition, while dozens of firefighters, paramedics and two rescue helicopters were deployed to the scene as part of a declared mass casualty response.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, with reports of people being struck by the speeding vehicle and several victims requiring resuscitation. Some bodies were later seen covered at the scene as rescue teams worked to secure the area.
Police said a 33-year-old German man has been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that there is no ongoing threat to the public. Investigations are underway to determine whether the act was intentional.
Leipzig Mayor Burkhard Jung described the tragedy as “shocking” and extended condolences to the victims’ families, while Saxony state officials said the incident had left the community deeply shaken.
Authorities have assured residents that the city remains safe as investigations continue into one of the latest in a series of similar vehicle-ramming incidents reported in Germany in recent years.
