MUNICH — At least 28 people were injured Thursday when a car plowed into a crowd in what German authorities called a "suspected attack," as officials say there are indications the suspect may have "an extremist background."
A major security conference attended by world leaders is set to begin Friday. Vice President JD Vance is among those due to address the conference.
The U.S. Secret Service told NBC News, "There was no protective impact to the VP but we are monitoring that incident closely and German authorities are still investigating a potential motive."
The car, driven by a 24-year-old Afghan, struck pedestrians around 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET) in the city center, prompting a "major" operation, police said.
Police said that an officer fired a shot at the car and that the driver was “secured” and arrested. Police said the suspect was slightly injured but did not have a gunshot wound.
Police said the suspect, an asylum-seeker who lives in Munich, was known to authorities for drug and theft incidents.
The Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Bavarian Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism have taken over the probe because of “indications of an extremist background,” police said in a news release.
No other people are known to be involved in the incident.
Munich police said the suspect will appear before a judge Friday.
Media photos show that the car involved was a white Mini, with personal belongings strewn across the road, including shoes, a pair of glasses and a stroller.
At a news conference, Bavaria Gov. Markus Söder confirmed the incident is being treated as a possible attack. Earlier, Munich police said at least two people were seriously injured.
Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter said children were among the injured, The Associated Press reported.
"This is simply terrible, ladies and gentlemen, when you receive the news, that once again someone rammed their car into a group of people. There are a lot of injured. It's a slap in the face," Söder said.
"We sympathize with the people, but we also need the determination to change things in Germany and fast," he added without specifying exactly what he believed officials need to do differently.
In December, five people were killed and 200 were injured when a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in eastern Germany.
Police spokesman Thomas Schelshorn told NBC News at the scene that a motive remains unclear but confirmed that a trade union demonstration had been taking place nearby.
The Munich Security Conference, an annual meeting of politicians and defense officials from around the world, is set to begin Friday amid a large police presence and a tight security protocol.
Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to meet with U.S. partners at the summit to discuss the war in Ukraine.
Bavarian State Interior Minister Joachim Hermann said at the scene Thursday morning: “We do not know at the moment and do not assume that there is any connection with the security conference. But the motivation of this Afghan perpetrator must, of course, be investigated more closely.”
The Munich Security Conference posted on X that it was “deeply saddened” to learn of the car-plowing incident, adding: “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
Germany will hold federal elections in 10 days.
Carlo Angerer reported from Munich and Patrick Smith from London.
