Munich Attack Revealed as Islamist Motivated, Prosecutors Confirm

An attack in Munich, where an Afghan man drove into a crowd, has been identified by prosecutors as motivated by Islamist beliefs. With 36 injuries reported, including critical conditions, the incident raises concerns ahead of upcoming German elections.

 

An Afghan man, suspected of injuring 36 people in a vehicular assault in Munich, has confessed to the act, and prosecutors indicate it was driven by religious motivations. According to Munich public prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann, the suspect exclaimed "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) in Arabic upon his arrest, leading her to classify the attack as "Islamist motivated."

Among those hurt, a two-year-old girl is fighting for her life in intensive care, alongside another critically injured individual. Authorities disclosed that eight others suffered serious injuries, with a demographic breakdown of the casualties showing 32 men and 4 women. This car-ramming, occurring just ten days ahead of Germany's federal elections, has intensified scrutiny over prior attacks involving immigrant perpetrators, including two linked to Afghanistan.

As snow blanketed Munich, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the site of the violence, expressing deep distress over the incident. Local police chief Guido Limmer noted that the suspect, known as Farhad N, 24, was interrogated for two hours following the attack. During this time, he admitted to deliberately driving into the crowd assembled for a trade union protest.

Due in court Friday afternoon, Farhad N, who arrived in Germany in 2016, has no prior convictions, and authorities indicate no current associations with established jihadist organizations. Although his asylum application was denied, he legally resided in Germany with a valid work permit.

The timeline of the attack coincides with the Munich Security Conference. Following the event, US Vice-President JD Vance extended his condolences to the victims. Initial reports claimed the assailant had a history of shoplifting; however, Bavaria's Interior Minister clarified that Farhad N served as a store detective, offering testimony in shoplifting cases rather than being a perpetrator himself.