A vehicle plowed into a crowd in the western German city of Mannheim on Monday, resulting in at least one fatality and multiple injuries. The incident cast a shadow over the region’s carnival celebrations, where police had been on high alert for potential security threats.

Authorities apprehended the driver and later confirmed that he acted alone, ruling out a wider threat to the public. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with people lying on the ground, and at least two individuals receiving resuscitation efforts. According to Bild newspaper, security sources reported two deaths and 25 injuries, including 15 in serious condition.

Germany has been on edge following a series of violent attacks in recent months, including fatal car rammings in Magdeburg in December and Munich last month, as well as a stabbing in Mannheim in May 2024. Police had heightened security for carnival parades after social media accounts linked to the Islamic State militant group urged attacks on events in Cologne and Nuremberg.

According to a spokesperson, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser canceled her scheduled attendance at Cologne’s parade, the country’s largest, in response to the Mannheim incident.

The annual Rose Monday celebrations, the peak of carnival season in Germany’s predominantly Catholic western and southern regions, typically feature satirical floats referencing current events. This year’s displays included caricatures of U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, tech mogul Elon Musk, and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Despite the tragedy, thousands of revelers in traditional jester costumes and colorful makeup continued to fill the streets of Cologne, Düsseldorf, and other cities, dancing and celebrating ahead of Lent.

Source: Reuters