Authorities in Germany have confirmed an Islamist motive behind a deliberate attack in Munich, where a 24-year-old Afghan national drove his vehicle into a crowd of demonstrators. The incident, which took place on Thursday, left at least 36 people injured, including a child, and has intensified discussions on public safety just days before the federal elections.
During a press briefing on Friday, Prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann stated that the suspect confessed to intentionally targeting the demonstrators.
“He has admitted to deliberately driving into the participants of the demonstration,” Tilmann revealed. “While I remain cautious in drawing premature conclusions, based on current findings, I can say there are strong indications of an Islamist motivation behind this crime.”
The attack occurred just before the commencement of the Munich Security Conference, an event attended by prominent global leaders, including U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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Despite the ideological underpinnings suggested by the suspect’s actions, Tilmann clarified that there is no current evidence linking him to any established Islamist organizations. The accused has been identified as Farhad Noori.
The incident has reignited concerns about national security and the prevention of extremist-related attacks, especially in light of the upcoming elections. Investigations remain ongoing as authorities work to uncover any potential connections or further motives behind the attack.
