Volkmarsen ramming attack

On 24 February 2020, a man rammed his car against civilians at a carnival parade in Volkmarsen, Hesse, Germany, injuring 154 people.[1]

Volkmarsen ramming attack
LocationVolkmarsen, Hesse, Germany
Date24 February 2020
TargetCivilians
Attack type
Vehicle-ramming attack
WeaponsMercedes-Benz station wagon
Deaths0
Injured154
AssailantsMaurice Pahler

Attack

At about 2:45pm, a silver Mercedes car was driven first through plastic barricades set up for the parade and then into a crowd at a carnival parade celebrating Rosenmontag in Volkmarsen, Hesse, Germany.[2][3] Eye witnesses informed BBC News that the driver sped up to attack the civilians, and seemed to target children.[2][3] 154 people were injured, with thirty-five seriously injured.[1][4][3] Twenty of those injured were children, the youngest of whom was a two-year-old.[3] A 29 year old German citizen, named by Police as "Maurice P", who moved to the local area within the previous 3 years, was detained and arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide, but a motive for the attack has yet to be determined as the suspect was said to not be in a fit state of mind to be questioned.[3][2] The New York Times reported that once the car initially crashed, bystanders rushed to the car. A woman tried to take the keys from the man, but was choked and had her hair pulled; the suspect tried to restart the car, but three men assaulted the suspect to disable him.[5] As of 24 February, the suspect was receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in the incident but would later be brought before an investigating judge. Hesse authorities cancelled all carnival parades as a precaution that day, and reconvened them on the following morning with enhanced security.[6][2][3]

Investigation

The attacker was identified as Maurice Pahler, a 29-year-old German man, known to police for crimes including assault. It was stated by the public prosecutors office that the assault was premeditated.[7] It was initially reported that the attacker was under the effect of alcohol and drugs, but this was later corrected as false.[8]

A person who filmed the attack was arrested; it is not clear if he was involved in the attack.[9]

Responses

Chancellor Angela Merkel said her thoughts were with the injured and their relatives and thanked the police and medical services.[3]

References
  1. Nach Amokfahrt - Kriminologe: Taten wie Volkmarsen und Hanau waren nicht vorhersehbar
  2. Henley, Jon (24 February 2020). "Children among the injured after car drives into German carnival". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  3. "Dozens injured after car ploughs into carnival parade in Germany". The Irish Times. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  4. "Dozens injured as German man 'intentionally' rams car into crowd". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  5. "German Carnival Crash Driver 'Seemed So Satisfied': Eyewitness Says". February 25, 2020 – via New York Times.
  6. "Car drives into carnival crowd in German town". February 24, 2020 – via BBC News.
  7. Bullion, Constanze von; Drobinski, Matthias. "Nordhessen - Zertrümmerte Fröhlichkeit beim Rosenmontag". Süddeutsche.de.
  8. Jüngstes Opfer ist drei Jahre alt
  9. Volkmarsen attack: Almost 60 hurt after car drives into carnival crowd
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