The driver was known to the authorities

“Reckless driving” in Leipzig: Dead and injured

Early in the evening, the suspect drove a white car from Augustusplatz across the market square, striking several people in the process. The perpetrator was “apprehended” by police while still in the car, according to police reports.(Bild: EPA/FILIP SINGER)

Numerous people were injured and two people (aged 63 and 77) were killed on Monday in downtown Leipzig. A car had plowed into a crowd at high speed. The driver—a 33-year-old German citizen who was apparently already known to the police—was arrested at the scene.

Around 5:00 p.m., the car, a light gray VW, sped about 500 meters down Grimmaische Straße, a shopping street in Leipzig in the German state of Saxony. Numerous people witnessed the “80 to 100 km/h” drive, which was stopped by a bollard. The driver is in custody.

Suspect Married, Father, and Boxing Coach
The suspect is reportedly a married building technician who also worked as a boxing coach. Jeffrey K. is also said to be the father of a child. According to “Bild,” the incident was triggered by an argument.  "The lone perpetrator" "no longer poses a threat," the police reassured the public in a statement. Investigators do not believe the perpetrator had political or religious motives.

The car, which was stopped by a bollard after driving 500 meters through the city center(Bild: APA/dpa/Sebastian Willnow)

Hospitals reported a “mass influx of injured people”
Leipzig Fire Chief Axel Schuh reported in the evening that two people had died—a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man—three were seriously injured, and another 20 were “affected.” Police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel were deployed in a large-scale operation. A “mass influx of casualties” was reported at nearby hospitals, but the situation gradually eased as the evening progressed. Ten ambulances were on the scene, along with numerous police patrol cars.

“People were run over”
Some shops and restaurants in the city center were closed, and employees were sent home. According to media reports, many of them were shocked by the incident. An eyewitness told “Focus”: “I saw a car speeding through from inside the store. People were run over.”

Images from the scene of the incident:

According to eyewitnesses, a woman was on the windshield
Eyewitnesses reportedly saw a woman on the car’s windshield as the vehicle sped through the pedestrian zone for reasons that remain unclear. 

A support station for the crisis intervention team was set up on Augustusplatz, from where the driver had steered his vehicle into the pedestrian zone.

Mayor: “Driver Exhibited Signs of Mental Distress”
According to Leipzig’s mayor, Burkhard Jung, the driver exhibited “mental health issues” at the time of his arrest. A motive is not yet known. In videos purportedly showing the arrest, a slender man in a blue T-shirt and light-colored pants can be seen. The suspect’s head is largely shaved bald. He can also be heard repeatedly shouting, “Make it stop!”

Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer called the incident “a suspected rampage.” “This deeply shocks me. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I wish the injured strength and a speedy recovery. An act like this leaves us speechless—and it makes us determined,” said Kretschmer.

Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster (3rd from left) on the sidelines of the press conference(Bild: AFP/JENS SCHLUETER)

Interior Minister: “Terrible rampage”
The CDU politician emphasized in his post: “We will do everything in our power to solve this case quickly and completely. The rule of law will act with full force.” Now, he said, the focus will be on being there for one another. “Saxony stands together.” 

At a hastily convened press conference, Saxony’s Interior Minister Armin Schuster also spoke of a “horrific rampage.” “As things stand, we are very likely dealing with a rampaging gunman,” Schuster continued.