Two Killed in Car Ramming in Mannheim, Germany

Two people were killed and at least 11 others injured when a man rammed his car at high speed into a crowd in the German city of Mannheim on Monday.

Details: The attack occurred at midday during carnival celebrations, killing an 83-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man. The suspect is a 40-year-old “German citizen,” according to authorities. Police have not disclosed the motive for the attack.

Following the attack, the suspect shot himself in the mouth with a blank-firing pistol. He survived and is being treated in the hospital.

Deadly trend: An alarming pattern of violence is haunting German streets, often perpetrated by migrants or their children.

• This attack comes less than a month after a vehicle attack on a crowd in Munich that killed two and injured dozens.
• In January, two people were fatally stabbed in a terrorist attack in Aschaffenburg, including a 2-year-old boy. Several others were wounded.
• A car ramming at a Christmas market in Magdeburg killed six and injured at least 200 more.

German police were directed to be on high alert during the carnival celebrations in the wake of these attacks, but authorities were unable to prevent another one.

Instability: Germans are growing more urgent for a solution to the festering plague of violence. And the recent elections have intensified concerns about the nation’s stability. The leadership vacuum will soon be filled by a strong leader who will promise security and stability.

Learn more: To understand where events in Germany are leading, read A Strong German Leader Is Imminent.