At least one person was killed and several others injured when a car plowed into a crowd in the city’s pedestrian zone in Mannheim, Germany.
Police have urged the public to steer clear of the downtown area while investigations are underway.
According to police spokesperson, Stefan Wilhelm, the vehicle struck a group of people at Paradeplatz, a central square in Mannheim.
While confirming the arrest of a suspect, he noted that authorities were still determining whether additional perpetrators were involved.
Wilhelm stated, “We can confirm that one perpetrator was arrested. We can’t yet give information on whether there were further perpetrators.”
A journalist from German news channel NTV, reporting from the scene, described distressing visuals, including a body covered with a tarpaulin and scattered children’s shoes among the debris.
Paradeplatz, a prominent square in Mannheim’s city center, marks the end of a pedestrian street in the city, which is home to approximately 326,000 residents and lies about 85 kilometers (52 miles) south of Frankfurt.
In response to the incident, Mannheim University Hospital activated its disaster and emergency protocols to accommodate potential mass casualties, as reported by the German news agency dpa.
Additionally, local authorities issued a public alert via the Katwarn app, warning residents to avoid the area due to the large-scale police operation.
The app serves as an emergency communication tool for major crises such as natural disasters, attacks, or fires.
The incident took place a day after Mannheim’s street parade, part of Germany’s wider carnival celebrations.
With many people taking an extended weekend to observe festivities, security measures were heightened, especially for Rose Monday, a significant day in pre-Lenten carnival traditions.
Germany has witnessed a series of violent attacks in recent months, including stabbing incidents and vehicular assaults linked to asylum seekers.
Just in February, a car rammed into a trade union demonstration in Munich, resulting in the deaths of a two-year-old girl and her mother.
Similarly, a December attack in Magdeburg saw a car plowing into a Christmas market, killing six people and injuring hundreds.
Mannheim itself was the scene of a stabbing attack last May at an anti-Islam rally, where a police officer was killed, and five others were wounded.
Ahead of Monday’s incident, Interior Minister, Nancy Daeser, had emphasized that security measures were in place for the festivities.
In light of the attack, she canceled her planned attendance at the Rose Monday parade in Cologne and is now traveling to Mannheim.
