Volkmarsen ramming attack

At about 2:45pm, a silver Mercedes car was driven first through plastic barricades set up for the parade and then into a crowd at a carnival parade celebrating Rosenmontag in Volkmarsen, Hesse, Germany.[2][3] Eye witnesses informed BBC News that the driver sped up to attack the civilians, and seemed to target children.[2][3] 154 people were injured, with thirty-five seriously injured.[1][4][3] Twenty of those injured were children, the youngest of whom was a two-year-old.[3] A 29 year old German citizen, named by Police as "Maurice P", who moved to the local area within the previous 3 years, was detained and arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide, but a motive for the attack has yet to be determined as the suspect was said to not be in a fit state of mind to be questioned.[3][2] The New York Times reported that once the car initially crashed, bystanders rushed to the car. A woman tried to take the keys from the man, but was choked and had her hair pulled; the suspect tried to restart the car, but three men assaulted the suspect to disable him.[5] As of 24 February, the suspect was receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in the incident but would later be brought before an investigating judge. Hesse authorities cancelled all carnival parades as a precaution that day, and reconvened them on the following morning with enhanced security.[6][2][3]

The attacker was identified as Maurice Pahler, a 29-year-old German man, known to police for crimes including assault. It was stated by the public prosecutors office that the assault was premeditated.[7] It was initially reported that the attacker was under the effect of alcohol and drugs, but this was later corrected as false.[8]

A person who filmed the attack was arrested; it is not clear if he was involved in the attack.[9]

Chancellor Angela Merkel said her thoughts were with the injured and their relatives and thanked the police and medical services.[3]