Germany: Car plows into crowd in Mannheim, casualties reported

A car has driven into a crowd in the western German city of Mannheim on March 3, leaving multiple casualties.

Thus, a black car sped through the crowd as it travelled from Paradeplatz square towards the city's iconic water tower, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Several people sustained severe injuries, with at least one confirmed fatality.

Eyewitnesses described seeing two individuals being resuscitated, while a person was seen lying under a tarpaulin, although it remains unclear whether they were injured or deceased.

The incident took place as carnival celebrations were underway across the Rhineland, including in Mannheim, where large crowds gathered for parades. Security had already been heightened across Germany following threats from social media accounts linked to the Islamic State, which had urged attacks at events in Cologne and Nuremberg.

Mannheim police confirmed the incident, stating that an operation was underway in the city centre, near the Wasserturm and Plankenkopf areas. They urged the public to expect possible traffic disruptions. "Police and rescue services are on their way. Further information is not yet available," they said.

The scene was chaotic, with reports of debris scattered across the area, as noted by Bild. The attack has raised further concerns about safety in Germany, which has recently experienced a wave of violent incidents, including car rammings in Magdeburg and Munich, as well as a stabbing attack in Mannheim last May.

While there is currently no indication that incident was a deliberate attack, Germany has been on edge after a series of violent events, including last month's deadly car ramming in Munich, which left 36 people injured. The country was also rocked by a Christmas market attack in Magdeburg in December that killed six people and injured nearly 70.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the Mannheim incident, with further updates expected.

By Aghakazim Guliyev