At least one person was killed and more than 20 others were seriously injured Monday after a vehicle rammed into a crowd in a central square in the western German city of Mannheim. Local police requested the public avoid the city center due to what they described as a "large police operation."
The incident occurred just before Germany's traditional carnival costume festivities, which are currently taking place in numerous cities across the country, including Mannheim. While the city's main carnival event is scheduled for Tuesday, several smaller carnival activities were already underway Monday, including parades with numerous children and families in attendance, many wearing costumes.
The attacker apparently struck people who had arrived at the square's main shopping area, which was not part of the official parade preparations. At least 15 people were described as being in serious condition.
According to a report in the local newspaper Bild, a black vehicle crashed into a crowd gathered in the city's Parade Square, near its historic water tower. The incident left several casualties, with large police forces quickly deployed to the scene. Bild further reported that police apprehended the driver.
