What Happened in Stuttgart? One Dead and Seven Injured After Car Drives into Crowd

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- One fatality and seven injuries reported after a car incident in Stuttgart.
- The event appears to be a tragic traffic accident.
- The driver, a 42-year-old man, has been taken into custody.
- Authorities confirmed no evidence of an attack or intent.
- Emergency services responded promptly to assist the victims.
Berlin, May 3 (NationPress) Tragically, one individual has lost their life and seven others sustained injuries, three of which are serious, after a vehicle veered into a crowd of pedestrians in the heart of Stuttgart, located in southwestern Germany, as reported by local authorities.
The incident took place in the Olgaeck region of Stuttgart-Mitte.
Emergency services, including both police and fire departments, arrived promptly at the scene.
Local police confirmed the casualties in a recent update, noting that at least one victim required immediate resuscitation. The rescue efforts are still ongoing, according to police reports.
This unfortunate event unfolded around 6 p.m. local time when a black SUV drove into a gathering, as indicated by local media sources.
Authorities have stated that initial investigations point towards it being an accident.
Stuttgart police, in a statement on X, mentioned, "Our initial findings at the #Olgaeck scene indicate this is a tragic traffic accident. There are no signs of an attack or deliberate action at this time."
Authorities reiterated that there is no evidence suggesting an attack or intentional act, emphasizing it appears to be a tragic traffic accident.
The driver of the SUV, identified as a 42-year-old man, has been taken into custody.
According to police, "Five individuals suffered minor injuries, while three others were severely injured in the incident. Unfortunately, a 46-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries in the hospital."
In an earlier post on social media platform X, Stuttgart Police confirmed that all evidence supported a narrative of a "tragic traffic accident" and ruled out the possibility of an attack.
The occurrence transpired near an above-ground subway station in Stuttgart's city center, according to police.
Authorities assured the public that there was no ongoing threat related to the incident.
The driver of the Mercedes vehicle was apprehended at the scene, as confirmed by a police spokesperson.
Emergency responders, police, and forensic specialists cordoned off the area to conduct a thorough investigation of the scene.
Witnesses are being interviewed, and subway services in the vicinity have been temporarily suspended.
Germany has witnessed a series of car-ramming incidents in recent years, raising concerns that such events could occur again.
On February 13, two individuals lost their lives after being injured in a car-ramming incident during a labor union demonstration in Munich, where approximately 39 others were injured, and a 24-year-old Afghan national was arrested, suspected of having an Islamic extremist motive.
On December 20, 2024, a car drove into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, resulting in at least five fatalities and over 200 injuries.
In June 2022, a 29-year-old man drove his car into a crowd in Berlin, causing one death and numerous injuries, with the driver identified as a 29-year-old German-Armenian.