Skip to main content

Terrorism

Car drives into Berlin crowd killing 1, injuring 6

According to the police, several of those injured were high school students who were visiting Berlin

June 8, 2022 11:08am

Updated: June 8, 2022 11:37am

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. 

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. 

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.