Munich, Germany — Tension gripped Munich early hours ahead of the Munich Security Conference, compounded by a brutal attack that left the city reeling and 28 injured, including two children. The incident occurred at Stiglmaier Platz as night fell on Thursday, painting a somber mood amidst preparations for the annual international gathering.
The attack involved a white Mini that sped through a crowd at approximately 50 km/h during a Verdi trade union demonstration predominantly attended by teachers and their children. Eyewitness accounts recall the chilling moment the vehicle plowed into the demonstrators. “We heard the roar of an engine from behind, tires screeching, then a series of dull thuds,” Udo Kunte, a local resident, described. Police were quick to respond, pulling the driver from the car, who has since been detained.
Authorities identified the perpetrator as Farhad N., a 24-year-old Afghan national. Farhad was known to police due to previous minor offenses and had unresolved immigration issues, including a rejected asylum application from 2017 and a deportation order since 2020 that remained unenforced.
Munich’s Mayor, Dieter Reiter, expressed his distress, stating, “It’s hard to find words on such a terrible day. The whole city is in shock.” Such sentiments were echoed across the community and political spectrum, with Jürgen Köhnlein, the chairman of Bavaria’s police union, vociferously condemning the security lapse that allowed the attacker to target individuals advocating for better working conditions.
The incident not only devastated locals but also came at a politically sensitive time, just ten days before Germany’s federal election. It highlighted growing public unease over a series of violent incidents in the country linked to asylum seekers and foreign nationals. Chancellor Olaf Scholz responded strongly, emphasizing that the justice system must diligently prosecute and deport the perpetrator, reflecting the government’s zero-tolerance stance on such violent crimes.
Opposition parties immediately seized upon the attacker’s immigration status, pushing for stricter enforcement of deportation orders. In response, the Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser highlighted Germany’s efforts, noting that the country had deported 28 Afghan nationals the previous year, more than any other European nation, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations with Kabul under Taliban leadership.
The layered complexity of the deportation process was underlined by a spokesman from the Federal Interior Ministry, pointing out that deportations are primarily the responsibility of the federal states. This statement directed scrutiny towards Bavaria’s practices and policies, where the state’s Interior Minister admitted the logistical challenges had prevented the suspect’s timely deportation.
The severity of the attack prompted reactions from international groups as well, including a prominent Afghan organization in Munich. Its leader, Mohammad Imran Sedigi, labeled the act as “barbaric” and stressed that such individuals pose a threat not only to Germany but also malign the broader Afghan community residing in the country.
As authorities continued their investigation, including searches at the suspect’s residence, a Taliban spokesperson communicated with German media expressing willingness to accept deported nationals, contingent on Germany allowing the establishment of a Taliban diplomatic presence—a proposal Berlin has so far resisted.
This tragic episode underscores the ongoing challenges facing Germany as it navigates complex legal, diplomatic, and security terrains in a bid to ensure public safety amidst a fraught political and social landscape.