Leipzig is situated southwest of Berlin and has a population exceeding 630,000, ranking it among the largest cities in eastern Germany.
On Monday in Leipzig, a city in eastern Germany, a car drove into pedestrians on a street, resulting in at least one fatality and multiple injuries, according to officials.
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The driver was taken into custody after the vehicle sped down a main square and a prominent street in the city center, near historic landmarks.
Leipzig’s mayor, Burkhard Jung, confirmed the death of one individual and stated: «The motivation is still unclear. We have no information about the perpetrator.»
Chief of Leipzig fire services, Axel Schuh, reported two people sustained serious injuries and an additional two were «affected.»
Authorities announced on X that the car struck pedestrians on Grimmaische Straße before «fleeing the scene.»
However, the suspect was later arrested, with police noting «no further threat currently exists from him.»
Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer identified the suspect as a young German citizen, described as «psychologically notable,» and referred to the incident as a «suspected rampage attack.»
Interior Minister Armin Schuster stated during a press briefing that the suspect is a 33-year-old German national who was detained and is considered a «lone offender.»
Police forces, firefighters, emergency medical teams, and two helicopters responded in large numbers.
Leipzig lies southwest of Berlin and is home to over 630,000 residents, ranking it as one of the most populous cities in eastern Germany.
Series of rammings
Since a December 2016 attack in Berlin, where a Tunisian motivated by jihadist ideals drove a truck into a crowd killing 13 people, Germany has experienced multiple ramming incidents.
In 2024, a Saudi man harboring Islamophobic views targeted a Christmas market in Magdeburg, driving a car into bystanders and causing six deaths along with over 300 injuries.
In February 2025, a vehicle driven by an Afghan man rammed into a march in Munich, killing a mother and her daughter and injuring around 30 others.
These incidents have intensified concerns in parts of German society about immigration following a significant influx in 2015.
Issues related to immigration and security have gained prominence in Germany’s political discourse, contributing to the growth of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Additional sources • AFP