At least 4 killed after car drives into crowd in Germany

At least four people were killed Tuesday after a driver mowed down a crowd in a pedestrian zone in Germany.

According to Deutsche Welle, at least 10 others were injured in the incident which occurred in Trier, about 120 west of Frankfurt. Police quickly arrested a 51-year-old German man and seized his vehicle, a Land Rover sports utility vehicle he had borrowed from another person, after the attack.

A square is blocked by the police in Trier, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. German police say two people have been killed and several others injured in the southwestern German city of Trier when a car drove into a pedestrian zone. Trier police tweeted that the driver had been arrested and the vehicle impounded. (Harald Tittel / dpa/)

Police said the suspect had been living in the car in the days prior to the attack and had a high blood alcohol content when he was taken into custody.

Rhineland-Palatinate Minister President of Germany’s Social Democratic Party Malu Dreyer, who is from the city, said it was “a terrible day” for Trier and Germany.

“My deepest sympathy goes to the relatives of the dead. I wish all those injured a speedy recovery,” she said.

Dreyer added that a baby was among those killed in the attack.

“The news from Trier saddens me very much. My sympathies are with the relatives of the people whose lives were taken so abruptly and violently,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

While police and prosecutors have not discovered a motive, they are conducting their investigation assuming the man intended to cause harm. Investigators said the suspect’s “possible psychiatric problems” are a current focus.

Police asked the public to avoid spreading disinformation as the investigation continued. They also asked that photos and videos be turned over to police and not posted on social media.

“Please do not spread speculation. Reliable information can be obtained from the staff of @PolizeiTrier,” the police department tweeted.