Munich prosecutors announced Friday that the suspect in a car attack that injured over 30 people appears to have been motivated by Islamic extremism.
The 24-year-old Afghan national, who identified himself as a bodybuilder and fitness model, was apprehended Thursday after driving his Mini Cooper into a labor union demonstration. The incident occurred near the planned gathering location for the Munich Security Conference, where world leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, were expected.
Prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann stated that the suspect uttered “Allahu Akbar” to police and prayed following his arrest, prompting the immediate involvement of the department investigating extremism and terrorism.
Tilmann said the suspect admitted to intentionally driving into the demonstration, offering an explanation that she described as religiously motivated. She stated, according to the Associated Press, “According to all we know at the moment, I would venture to speak of an Islamist motivation.”
However, she added there was no evidence suggesting involvement with any organization.
Tilmann also revealed that the suspect, who arrived in Germany as an asylum seeker in 2016 and resided in Munich, had posted religiously themed content on social media, including phrases like “Allah, protect us always.”
The attack resulted in 36 injuries, leading to 36 counts of attempted murder against the suspect, along with charges of bodily harm and dangerous interference with road traffic.
Bavaria’s state criminal police office deputy head, Guido Limmer, reported finding a chat, seemingly with relatives, where the suspect mentioned possibly not being alive the next day. However, investigators haven’t uncovered evidence of concrete attack preparations or any accomplices.
The suspect had no prior convictions, held a valid residence permit, and showed no signs of mental illness, according to Tilmann.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the attack site Friday morning, placing flowers and condemning the attack’s brutality, expressing shock at the event.
A spokesperson for the vice president informed Digital on Tuesday that Harris and President Zelenskyy would meet during the conference, where the Russia-Ukraine war is expected to be a key topic.
’ Rachel Wolf and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.