Afghan driver rams into crowd in Germany and injures dozens, police say

German police are investigating an Afghan citizen who allegedly rammed a crowd of union members in a demonstration in Munich.

About 30 people were injured when the 24-year-old Afghan allegedly drove the white Mini car into a crowd on Thursday at about 10:30 a.m. local time.

'We sympathize with the people, but we also need the determination to change things in Germany and fast.'

Authorities said there were indications that the suspect in the "suspected attack" had "an extremist background." One officer fired a gunshot into the car, and the suspect was injured slightly but not shot, according to police. He was arrested at the scene.

The suspect had been rejected for asylum in 2020 when a deportation order was issued for him. That order was later overturned, and he was given residency.

Some reports initially claimed that he had been known to police for drug and theft incidents in Munich, but police said he had been a witness in several trials, not a defendant.

Authorities said there were children among the injured and that at least two people were seriously injured.

"There are a lot of injured. It's a slap in the face," said Bavaria Gov. Markus Söder. "We sympathize with the people, but we also need the determination to change things in Germany and fast."

Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to visit a major security conference in Munich with other global leaders on Friday.

"There was no protective impact to the VP, but we are monitoring that incident closely, and German authorities are still investigating a potential motive," said the U.S. Secret Service to NBC News.

The suspected attack comes only ten days before Germany has its federal elections.

Video from Munich can be viewed on the Sky News report on YouTube.

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