Car drives into Berlin crowd killing 1, injuring 6

A car drove into a crowd of people in a shopping district in Berlin on Wednesday, killing one woman and leaving six others in critical condition, authorities reported. 

A driver in a silver Renault ran over bystanders on Kurfuerstendamm avenue, near the famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the western city center, at around 10:30 a.m. local time, according to the German police. More than a dozen people were injured. 

The car then went towards Tauentzienstrasse, a popular street with tourists, until it eventually crashed through the window of a store. 

UPDATE: In this video the suspect is being detained, while the camera man confronts him with the fact that at least one person has died. The suspect seems confused. WARNING: May contain shocking footage for some! #Berlin #Germany #Car #Attack #Attack pic.twitter.com/QfeKMFBeXp

— 🅽🅴🆆🆂🅵🅻🅰🆂🅷 🆃🅵 (@newsflash_TF) June 8, 2022

According to the police, several of those injured were high school students who were visiting Berlin. The woman who was killed was a teacher associated with the group.

“Part of this group was severely injured, some had light injuries, one person belonging to this group died from their injuries,” reported the police.

The driver was identified as a 29-year-old German-Armenian man. He was detained at the scene and is being questioned by the police. 

Video of Berlin police taking 29 year-old Armenian German dual citizen into custody.
Witnesses can be heard calling him expletives, saying he accelerated the car.
After plowing into people and crashing into a shop, he tried to flee but bystanders tackled him. #Breitscheidplatz pic.twitter.com/FwyaGnOgig

— John Sitarek (@JohnSitarek) June 8, 2022

It is still unknown whether the incident was purposefully done or if it was caused by a medical emergency. 

“Since we currently cannot say whether it was a disease-initiated accident or an intentional act, we as the Berlin police will not yet speak of a perpetrator,” Berlin police chief Anja Dierschke said about the investigation. 

"I am deeply affected by this incident. We know that there is one dead and there are several seriously injured. The police are working urgently to clarify the situation," tweeted Berlin’s Mayor, Franziska Giffey.