Two dead and at least 20 injured after car ploughs into crowd in German city

3 days ago 2

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Two people are dead and numerous others are injured after a car ploughed into a busy pedestrian area in Germany.

The grey SUV smashed into a crowd of people in Leipzig city centre on Monday afternoon.

The vehicle then sped away before the driver was apprehended, Sachsen Police said.

The city’s mayor said two people were killed. Officials added that two others were seriously injured, with 20 other casualties.

Photo by dts News Agency Germany/Shutterstock (16859142c) Car plows into crowd in Leipzig. The incident occurred on Grimmaische Stra?e in the city center; the area between Augustusplatz and Ritterstra?e has been cordoned off. Car drives into crowd in Leipzig, Germany - 04 May 2026

Sachsen Police said the alleged driver was apprehended after the car ‘fled’ (Picture: dts News Agency Germany/Shutterstock)

Major Mayor Burkhard Jung told reporters at the scene that they did not know anything about the alleged driver or their ‘motivation’.

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He added: ‘We are devastated. All I can do right now is express my solidarity with the victims’ families.

‘Everything else will now depend on the work of the police and investigating authorities.’

The car had turned into the pedestrian zone at Augustusplatz in the east German city, near Grimmaische Straße, which leads to the main shopping district.

A person was seen on top of the ⁠vehicle as it sped through ‌the area, local broadcaster Radio Leipzig reported

The SUV – which local Leipziger Volkszeitung reports was a grey VW Taigo – then reportedly drove approximately 500metres all the way to Leipzig’s market square.

Photo by Action Press/Shutterstock (16859178l) On Monday afternoon (04.05.) a car drove into a crowd on the busy Augustusplatz in Leipzig. The car was traveling into the city when it suddenly hit the people. The fire department first spoke of an accident. The situation was then ramped up in a short time to a mass prosecution. According to "Radio Leipzig", the driver drove through the city center with a person on the roof. According to current reports, at least two people have died and several have been seriously injured. The police cordoned off Augustusplatz. The emergency services are on the ground with a large contingent to care for the injured. A rescue helicopter is also in use Car drives in pedestrian zone in Leipzig - Two dead and several injured, Germany - 04 May 2026

The car turned into a busy pedestrian area in the heart of Leipzig (Picture: Action Press/Shutterstock)

Emergency services declared a mass casualty incident as it was unfolding, and a large number of police officers were on the scene.

Leipzig is located southwest of Berlin and has more than 630,000 inhabitants, making it one of the biggest cities in eastern Germany.

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