Jihadist Motivation Suspected in Munich Attack, Say Prosecutors

• Feb 14, 2025

An Afghan man accused of driving his car into a crowd in Munich, injuring 36 people, has admitted to the attack and appears to have been motivated by religious beliefs, prosecutors have revealed.

Munich public prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann informed reporters that the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Farhad N, shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) in Arabic upon his arrest. She suggested that his actions might have been driven by Islamist motives.

Among the critically injured is a two-year-old girl, who remains in intensive care. Additionally, eight others suffered serious injuries. Police confirmed that among the 36 victims, 32 were male and four were female.

The attack occurred on Thursday near Munich's central station, where a trade union protest was taking place. The incident comes just ten days before Germany's federal elections, which have already been overshadowed by previous attacks carried out by immigrants, including two suspects from Afghanistan.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited the scene on Friday as snow fell over the city. He expressed his deep sorrow, stating, "The brutality of this act upsets us and leaves us stunned."

Munich police chief Guido Limmer confirmed that Farhad N was interrogated for two hours following the attack. During questioning, he admitted to deliberately driving his Mini Cooper into the crowd. However, authorities found no evidence linking him to a jihadist group, nor did he appear to have accomplices.

Farhad N arrived in Germany in 2016. Though his asylum application was denied, he was granted a valid residence and work permit, allowing him to stay legally in the country.

The attack took place just a day before the Munich Security Conference. Upon arriving in the city on Friday, US Vice-President JD Vance extended his condolences to those affected by the tragedy.

Initially, authorities suggested that the suspect had a past conviction for shoplifting. However, Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann later clarified that Farhad N had actually been employed as a store detective and had served as a witness in shoplifting trials, rather than as an accused individual.

Farhad N was scheduled to appear in court on Friday afternoon as investigations into the attack continue.