BERLIN

At least 27 people were injured in a suspected car attack Thursday in Munich.

Police arrested the driver, a 24-year-old Afghan national, immediately after the incident, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters.

“Based on current information, the perpetrator was known to authorities for previous drug offenses and shoplifting. The investigation is ongoing,” he said.

The incident occurred in the city center, where members of a trade union had gathered for a demonstration. The driver deliberately drove his car into the crowd at the intersection of Dachauer and Seidlstrasse streets, according to witnesses.

The timing of the incident heightened security concerns, as Munich prepares to welcome world leaders and ministers from more than 60 countries for the Munich Security Conference starting Friday.

The scene was 1.5 kilometers (nearly 1 mile) from the historic Hotel Bayerischer Hof, the conference's traditional venue.

Herrmann said the suspect's motivation was not immediately clear. "We do not know at the moment, and do not assume that there is any connection with the Munich Security Conference," he said, adding that security measures were already heightened ahead of the international gathering.

The Munich Security Conference organizers expressed sadness on social media for the incident.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The emergency services are at the scene and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of this incident,” said organizers. “We ask everyone to remain calm and follow the instructions of the authorities.”  

Scholz pledges tougher stance

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, facing a Feb. 23 election, condemned the attack and promised that Social Democrats will take a firmer stance against foreign criminal offenders who abuse their right to stay in the country.

Scholz emphasized that the attacker must face punishment and subsequent deportation.

"Anyone who commits crimes in Germany will not only face severe punishment and imprisonment but must also expect to lose their right to remain in Germany," Scholz said, adding that officials will continue to explore options and take steps to enable deportations to countries like Afghanistan.​​​​​​​

The domestic debate about immigration and deportations to Syria and Afghanistan has intensified following several attacks in recent months. Most perpetrators were asylum seekers who were rejected or religious extremists whose deportations were prevented by legal constraints or security concerns in their home countries.

Right-wing parties have made migration, failed deportations and recent violent incidents their top election campaign issue, which has led to a climate of fear and xenophobia, resulting in increased hate crimes against legal immigrants and Germans with migrant backgrounds.