Munich car ramming injures at least 28 people, say police

A car has driven into a group of people in Munich in a suspected attack that injured at least 28 people, including two seriously, police have said.

The local fire service said some of those hurt were in a "life-threatening condition".

The driver was a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, police said. He was arrested at the scene and poses no further risk, they added.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters: "This attacker cannot count on any mercy. He must be punished and he must leave the country."

The incident happened at the scene of a rally linked to the transport union Verdi at around 10:30 local time (09:30 GMT) according to local media.

The car was seen approaching police cars at the rally, before speeding up and driving into a group of people, police said. Police then shot at the vehicle before detaining the man.

A police spokesman told broadcaster BR that officers were checking whether there was a link to the demonstration.

Munich's mayor Dieter Reiter said children were among those injured.

A major operation is under way in the Dachauer Strasse area, near the German city's central train station.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC they saw people running for shelter in shops and residential buildings as the "distressing" scene unfolded.

"It is obviously very unsettling," said one witness, a student who had been studying in a nearby coffee shop.

"I can't concentrate on anything else."

The injured are being treated and rescue helicopters are at the scene.

Bavaria's Premier Markus Söder called the incident a "suspected attack".

"Something has to change something in Germany – and quickly," he said.

"When you get the news that someone has once again driven a car into a crowd of people, the fact that there are many injured, is a slap in the face.

"We will clarify all the details, but we react cautiously to every attack like this."

Police said they could not confirm whether anyone else was involved, following unconfirmed reports of a second person in the car.

The suspect was known to police for theft and drug offences, officials said.

The incident happened hours before world leaders including Ukraine's President Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance will arrive in the city for the Munich security conference, which takes place on Friday, though local authorities said they do not believe the incident is linked to the conference.

The incident occurred around 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) from the security conference venue, and people have been advised to avoid the scene, which has been sealed off.

Police have asked for eyewitnesses to come forward with information and footage of the incident.

The suspected attack comes 10 days before Germany's federal election, in which security has become a central issue, and follows a string of violent attacks in the country.