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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.

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Einsatzkräfte der Polizei sichern eine Straße vor dem Landgericht
Mit diesem blauen Ford Fiesta fuhr Alexander S. in Mannheim gezielt Menschen tot.
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Overview

  • 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.