AGENCY
bERLIN, Feb 13
Over 20 people were injured when a car drove into a crowd in Munich on Thursday. Police are yet to confirm whether the driver had intentionally caused the accident.
However, the number of causalities is unclear. Munich-based Suddeutsche reported that one woman was dead. Police said that the driver drove a Mini Cooper and it’s unclear whether he mixed up with accelerator and brake.
A 26-year-old Afghan man was, reportedly, detained at the scene. “As reported, the secured person is the driver of the care…Speculation is swirling about further people being involved. We cannot confirm that at this time,” said police.
“The police chief just informed me that a vehicle drove into a group of people and unfortunately many were injured, including children. I am deeply shocked. My thoughts are with those hurt,” the mayor Dieter Reiter said.
The accident happened a day before the Munich Security Conference. US Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are slated to take part in the conference. The incident occurred around 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) from the security conference venue.
Reportedly, the incident affected the people participating in a demonstration linked to a strike organised by the Verdi union. More than 1,000 people were present at the scene.
The Verdi union strike was called on over wage disputes. The 24-hour strike observed by the German trade union Verdi brought bus, tram, and subway services in the capital to a standstill.
Wage cuts and tens of thousands eliminated from the jobs in the automotive industry have been the underlying reasons behind the strike.
Apart from the wage disputes at Berlin’s urban transit operator BVG, 2.6 million public sector workers, 1,92,000 railway workers, 1,70,000 DHL and Deutsche Post employees, and ground staff at Lufthansa are also engaged in labour disputes.
