Law enforcement officials in Germany say that 52 people, including 18 children, were hit on Monday when a man rammed a car into a carnival crowd in the western part of the country.
“A 29-year-old German citizen was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide in the town of Volkmarsen,” the BBC reported. “Police have also arrested a second person for allegedly filming the incident.”
The victims ranged from two-years-old to 85-years-old, and 35 people remained in the hospital. It was not clear whether there were any fatalities from the apparent attack.
The incident happened during celebrations for Rose Monday, which is celebrated throughout parts of Europe.
“A silver Mercedes drove through plastic barricades set up for the parade and into a group of people at about 14:45 local time,” the BBC reports.
Eyewitnesses told German media that the 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.”
Authorities said that the driver was being treated for injuries sustained during the incident before being questioned by prosecutors. Those same authorities rejected rumors that the driver was drunk during the incident.
The Telegraph reports:
The driver is a 29-year-old German citizen who has not been named under the country’s privacy laws. He is understood to be from the local area, and has no history of political extremism. …
The police presence is already heightened across Germany in the wake of a series of attacks.
The latest incident comes just days after a far-Right gunman killed nine people before turning his gun on his mother and himself in the town of Hanau, which also lies in Hesse.
“We’re assuming it was an intentional crime,” a police spokesman told reporters.
Regional government officials reportedly said the possibility that it could have been a terrorist attack “could not be ruled out.”
Reinhard Kubat, a local councillor, told Bild, “It was a beautiful procession and just as it ended I suddenly saw flashing lights and heard sirens. Crying people came towards me. There were mainly injured children on the street, but also older people.”
Elmar Schulten, a reporter for Waldeckische Landeszeitung, said, “When I arrived there were 15 people on the floor, many of them small children. People were howling everywhere, including grown men. Fathers who saw their children lying on the floor.”
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, “Our thoughts are with the injured. We hope they will all make a swift and full recovery. I wish them, their families and everyone who was in the Rose Monday parade strength. And I thank the emergency services from the bottom of my heart.”
Unsere Gedanken sind bei den Verletzten von #Volkmarsen. Wir hoffen, dass alle gut und zügig wieder genesen. Ihnen, ihren Angehörigen und allen, die bei dem #Rosenmontagszug waren, ganz viel Kraft. Und von Herzen danke den Einsatzkräften vor Ort.
— Heiko Maas 🇪🇺 (@HeikoMaas) February 24, 2020
Regional Prime Minister of Hesse Volker Bouffier said in a statement, “I am shocked by this bad deed, which has injured so many innocent people, some of them seriously. My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives and friends, and I wish everyone a speedy and complete recovery.”
USA Today added, “Chancellor Angela Merkel sent her condolences to those injured in the crash, wishing them a speedy and full recovery. She also thanked the police and all medical personnel involved.”