Focus on the BIG picture.
Thursday, Jan 22, 2026
Outside the box.
Tragic Outcomes Follow Munich Car Attack: Mother and Daughter Confirmed Dead
A two-year-old girl and her mother succumb to injuries in a car-ramming incident during a trade union demonstration in Munich.
Authorities in Munich have confirmed the deaths of a two-year-old girl and her 37-year-old mother, who sustained serious injuries in a car-ramming attack that occurred during a trade union demonstration on February 15, 2025. The incident left 37 others injured, according to police reports.
The suspect in the attack is a 24-year-old Afghan man identified in media reports as Farhad N. He has been detained on suspicion of deliberately driving his vehicle into a group of demonstrators affiliated with the Verdi trade union on Seidlstrasse at approximately 10:30 AM. The suspect reportedly shouted 'Allahu Akbar' to police officers at the scene and was observed praying, leading investigators to explore potential Islamist extremist motives.
Prosecutors have indicated that the suspect may face serious charges, including 36 counts of attempted murder, as well as charges related to bodily harm and dangerous interference with road traffic.
Despite being an asylum seeker, having arrived in Germany as an unaccompanied minor, he had no previous criminal convictions and was legally living in the country under a work permit.
Authorities have stated that there is no indication of a connection to any radical or extremist groups.
The driver had been known to police for past offenses related to drug use and theft.
Witness reports from the scene indicated a chaotic atmosphere, with individuals sitting on the ground and visibly traumatized following the attack.
In response to the incident, Munich's mayor, Dieter Reiter, expressed his shock and extended thoughts to the victims and their families, highlighting the depth of injury in the case.
Federal elections in Germany are approaching, and this tragic event has rekindled discussions surrounding immigration policy, a central issue in the upcoming vote on February 23.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the site of the attack, where many members of the public gathered to lay flowers in memory of those impacted.
He called on citizens to unite in the face of the tragedy, asserting that communal values must prevail amidst the sorrow.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack remains ongoing, with authorities evaluating both the intent and background of the suspect.
The suspect in the attack is a 24-year-old Afghan man identified in media reports as Farhad N. He has been detained on suspicion of deliberately driving his vehicle into a group of demonstrators affiliated with the Verdi trade union on Seidlstrasse at approximately 10:30 AM. The suspect reportedly shouted 'Allahu Akbar' to police officers at the scene and was observed praying, leading investigators to explore potential Islamist extremist motives.
Prosecutors have indicated that the suspect may face serious charges, including 36 counts of attempted murder, as well as charges related to bodily harm and dangerous interference with road traffic.
Despite being an asylum seeker, having arrived in Germany as an unaccompanied minor, he had no previous criminal convictions and was legally living in the country under a work permit.
Authorities have stated that there is no indication of a connection to any radical or extremist groups.
The driver had been known to police for past offenses related to drug use and theft.
Witness reports from the scene indicated a chaotic atmosphere, with individuals sitting on the ground and visibly traumatized following the attack.
In response to the incident, Munich's mayor, Dieter Reiter, expressed his shock and extended thoughts to the victims and their families, highlighting the depth of injury in the case.
Federal elections in Germany are approaching, and this tragic event has rekindled discussions surrounding immigration policy, a central issue in the upcoming vote on February 23.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the site of the attack, where many members of the public gathered to lay flowers in memory of those impacted.
He called on citizens to unite in the face of the tragedy, asserting that communal values must prevail amidst the sorrow.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack remains ongoing, with authorities evaluating both the intent and background of the suspect.
