The car crash that left 28 people injured in Munich, an attack according to the Bavarian government

BarcelonaA car has rammed into a group of people taking part in a demonstration in the German city of Munich, leaving 28 people injured, some in critical condition. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder has said that "it is presumed to be an attack."

The car, which involved a Mini Cooper, hit people who were taking part in a demonstration by the Verdi (Ver.di) public workers' union, the second largest in the country. The alleged perpetrator, who was arrested, is a 24-year-old Afghan man known to police for robberies and drug-related offences.

The incident occurred 1.5 kilometres from the venue where the Munich Security Conference is due to be held between Friday and Saturday, in which the defence ministers of the European powers and also the United States are taking part, as well as the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky. US Vice President JD Vance and his guests are due to arrive in Munich on Thursday afternoon.

A major police operation is underway near the central train station and officers are working to establish what happened, Reuters reports. Police have told X that they have arrested the driver of the vehicle that crashed into the crowd and that he no longer poses a threat. Police have set up a witness stand at the Loewenbraeukeller, a historic beer hall in the German city.

Police security has been heightened in Germany ahead of federal elections on February 23.