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At least 20 people were injured when a driver rammed through a large demonstration in Munich Thursday morning — one day before the German city was set to host a conference of world leaders including Vice President JD Vance.
Police say the suspect drove a Mini Cooper into the crowd of people leaving several injured just after 10:30 a.m.
Officials said they “secured” the driver adding there was no further threat to the area.
The incident happened in the area of the roads Dachauer Straße and Seidlstraße.
A heavy police presence was reported in the area.
Two of the injuries are listed as “very serious,” German outlet Bild reported.
The morning strike was set up by trade union Verdi as city workers rallied for pay increases, higher bonuses and three additional days off, the outlet added.
Eyewitnesses believe the driver intentionally crashed into the demonstrators.
Es gab einen Vorfall in München bei der Verdi-Kundgebung. Ein Auto fuhr in den Demozug. Es liegt ein Mensch auf der Straße und ein junger Mann wurde von der Polizei abgeführt. Menschen sitzend weinend und zitternd am Boden. Einzelheiten noch unklar. @BR24 pic.twitter.com/9N3YvxbJ2O— Sandra Demmelhuber (@SDemmelhuber) February 13, 2025
“I went with the demonstration,” one witness told German outlet BR24. “I saw that a man was lying under the car. Then I tried to open the door, but it was locked.”
The man says police shot at the windows of the car.
Munich is hosting the 61st Munich Security Conference which brings together world leaders to discuss world’s security policy challenges between Feb. 14 and Feb. 16.
Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are expected to meet on Friday.
Organizers of the event released a statement following the crash.
“We were deeply saddened to learn that a tragic incident occurred this morning in downtown Munich, in which a vehicle drove into a crowd of people. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” the conference said on X.
