A car ploughed into a crowd in the historic centre of the eastern German city of Leipzig on Monday, killing two people and injuring several others, authorities said.

The driver, a 33-year-old German man, was arrested at the scene and officials said his motivation was unclear. Germany has been shaken by a series of car-ramming attacks in recent years, including one targeting a Christmas market in 2024 in Magdeburg, and also in Berlin and Munich.

In the latest incident in Leipzig, a Volkswagen Taigo car careered from a major square in the old town down a busy pedestrian zone, travelling hundreds of metres.

Leipzig resident Hosam Algaer told AFP he narrowly avoided being hit by the vehicle before running after it to try and help the injured until the car came to a stop.

"The car braked, it stopped," he said. "There was a woman on top and she ended up under the car, dead. She fell from the roof."

"Luckily, things were not worse than they were thanks to the screaming," he added.

"People understood very quickly that an idiot was driving and they fled."

Michael Kretschmer – the leader of Saxony state, where Leipzig is located – said two people were killed, adding that the incident "shakes me to the core".

"We will do everything in our power to investigate it quickly and fully," he said. "The rule of law will act with all due rigour."

While officials did not draw firm conclusions on his motive, several described the incident as an "Amokfahrt" – a German term suggesting a rampage driven by some kind of madness. This kind of act was "often associated with psychological instability," said Armin Schuster, the interior minister in the Saxony state government.

Police said late on Monday that there was "no basis on current knowledge" to assume a political or religious motive on the part of the perpetrator.

A 63-year old woman and a 77-year old man, both German citizens, died in the incident, they added. At least two people were seriously injured and about 20 others were more lightly hurt, according to the fire service.

Police said the car ploughed into people on Grimmaische street, a major pedestrian zone in the old town lined with shops and historic buildings. The driver stopped of his own accord, they added.

TV pictures showed a white vehicle with a badly damaged windshield and hood, and the street cordoned off and surrounded by emergency vehicles.

Authorities said the driver was being investigated on suspicion of offences including murder and attempted murder. He was believed to have acted alone, police said, and there was no ongoing danger in the city. (AFP)



Edited by Cecil Wong