Mannheim Driver Targets Crowd, Killing Two in Apparent Deliberate Act

Authorities identify the suspect as a 40-year-old man with potential mental health issues, ruling out extremism or terrorism as motives.

The incident occurred in Mannheim's central shopping district, where a car struck pedestrians, killing an 83-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man, and injuring 11 others, some critically.
Police have determined the act was intentional, with the driver deliberately steering into the crowd over several hundred meters in a busy area hosting a Fasnacht market.
The suspect, a 40-year-old German man from Ludwigshafen, has a history of minor offenses, including a hate speech-related conviction in 2018, but no significant criminal record or ties to extremism.
Following his arrest, the suspect, who reportedly shot himself in the mouth with a blank-firing pistol, remains hospitalized and has yet to be interrogated by authorities.
Investigators are focusing on the suspect's mental health, citing evidence of psychological issues, while local officials emphasize the challenges of ensuring absolute public safety in urban spaces.