Tuesday, 28 March 2023

Volkmarsen attack: 52 injured after car drives into carnival crowd

The number of people confirmed as injured after a car ploughed into a carnival crowd in western Germany has risen to 52, police say. Eighteen of those hurt in Monday's incident are children.

In total 35 people remain in hospital.

Frankfurt's general prosecutor's office announced that the victims were aged between two and 85 years old.

A 29-year-old German citizen was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide in the town of Volkmarsen.

The motive is unclear. Planned carnival events are to be held in Hesse state, where the town is located, on Tuesday.

A statement by Hesse police said there were no "concrete indications" the risk had increased at these processions, although police warn security arrangements could be reviewed.

Police have also arrested a second person for allegedly filming the incident, the statement said.

Authorities cautioned against sharing images of the incident after one picture circulated online claimed to show the driver being arrested, but in fact showed a different person. Officers branded the photo "fake news" in a Twitter post.

What happened in Volkmarsen?
The incident took place during celebrations for Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday - a carnival day celebrated in some parts of Germany, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland.

A silver Mercedes drove through plastic barricades set up for the parade and into a group of people at about 14:45 local time (13:45 GMT).


Eyewitnesses told German media that driver had accelerated toward the crowd and appeared to target children.

Police said they believed it was an attack but that there was no indication of a political motive, according to Bild newspaper.

The Frankfurt prosecutor's office said the suspect was being treated for injuries sustained in the incident, but would later be brought before an investigating judge.

On Tuesday, authorities dismissed reports that the driver was drunk at the time, although it remains unclear whether he was under the influence of drugs.

Steffen Roettger said his two daughters were at the parade and called him after the incident happened. "My 10-year-old was pulled aside and only narrowly avoided being hit," he told broadcaster NTV.

He said his daughter was "in shock" after seeing people "lying around everywhere".

What has the reaction been?
Police have set up a portal for people to submit pictures or videos of the incident. They have also created an information centre for anyone affected at the town hall.

Hesse state leader Volker Bouffier said he was "shocked at the terrible act".

In a statement, he shared his condolences with the victims and their families, while urging people not to speculate about possible motives.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her thoughts were with those injured and their relatives.

Read 1165 times
Rate this item
(0 votes)
Login to post comments
Post-Brexit talks: We'll find
The head of the UK's unions has warned Boris Johnson she
Five dead in Milwaukee
Five people have been killed in a shooting at the Molson
Trump names VP Pence to lead
President Donald Trump has appointed Vice-President Mike
Post-Brexit talks: UK
The UK has warned the EU it will walk away from trade talks
Coronavirus: Two new cases
Two more patients have tested positive for coronavirus in
Greek protests: Dozens hurt
More than 60 people have been hurt, many of them riot
Budget 2020: Chancellor must
The new chancellor must raise taxes in his first Budget or
Health officials: Coronavirus
Health officials in the US have warned Americans to brace

Features


cache/resized/42ad9aebc0ade9bb1e09d84bdbde68f2.jpg
A man has been
cache/resized/f581ce10554be9d86c5e1bdbb21518bf.jpg
Researchers say
cache/resized/0a665575691932a2d0ffe8e0f3d1a88f.jpg
A law introducing
cache/resized/bdf1c5362e4a36745bbd1d9da16809f1.jpg
US scientists are
cache/resized/d8402c0a2a72bd474b938d6ac8d61dc4.jpg
The Yazidi

Hot News

Featured photos and videos

cache/resized/3e67a9c6770528a4c259003210c03b14.jpg
One show at Paris Fashion Week proved to be
cache/resized/c884d90e041f3f50ae115fb221fec0cd.jpg
Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted the entry of
cache/resized/7f8b04ffdc0836217221f7aceae27f2a.jpg
Taylor Swift plays a man-spreading, cigar
cache/resized/7888c18e2b426c21e9d55b33fbac28c0.jpg
Five people have been killed in a shooting at the
cache/resized/641c73bdf505f859c217b3555ca823cb.jpg
President Donald Trump has appointed
cache/resized/43b8a9fa9c18aefbe1472ee4cbdaeb52.jpg
Two more patients have tested positive for
cache/resized/91254e011b5304843ebf8d92bddbe4d3.jpg
More than 60 people have been hurt, many of them
cache/resized/872cb2144118b879fa72ea650687959c.jpg
At least 20 civilians, including nine children,
Template Settings

Color

For each color, the params below will give default values
Black Blue Brow Green Cyan

Body

Background Color
Text Color
Layout Style
Select menu
Google Font
Body Font-size
Body Font-family