At least one person has been killed in the southern German city of Mannheim after yet another car ramming attack.
A black SUV drove at high speed into a crowd of people on Monday, March 3rd, travelling from the centrally located Paradeplatz square towards the city’s landmark water tower.
At least one person has died, and several more were injured. Local police said a police operation was under way in the city centre. They have asked the public to keep away from the downtown area and stay inside their homes.
The attack happened as festivalgoers all across Germany are gathering for parades to mark the carnival season.
A suspect has been arrested.
The traditional German carnival season commenced last week, and, as we reported, Islamists suspected of belonging to the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group used social media platforms to call for attacks on festivalgoers.
Even while the police beefed up security in major cities, some politicians advised people to put aside their concerns and “enjoy the festive days.”
The Bavarian capital Munich was the site of an earlier car ramming attack, where two people were killed and dozens injured by an Afghan failed asylum seeker.
Mannheim itself suffered a terrorist assault last summer, when another Afghan killed a policeman and injured five other people at an anti-Islamism rally.
Security has been a key concern in Germany following a string of violent attacks committed by migrants in recent months. The issue propelled the anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland party to second place at the national elections a week ago.
Despite tough rhetoric by the likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz to stop illegal immigration into the country, his party, the CDU’s upcoming coalition deal with the Social Democrats will mark the continuation of pro-migration policies.
