Directly after the perpetrator drove into the union demonstration with his car, the police fired shots, but the suspect was not hit, says Munich's deputy police chief Christian Huber at the press conference.
He thanks everyone who participated in the initial efforts.
I believe we prevented something worse from happening. It wasn't like the perpetrator gave up immediately, he says.
There is no information about others being involved in the deed, but a mobile analysis will be conducted to determine if others were involved.
Religious References
A day after the deed, the prosecution is working on the theory that there was an Islamist motive behind the attack. Prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann states at the press conference that the man had sent out several messages with religious references, and that he prayed after the deed.
The 24-year-old suspect, who drove into the demonstration from behind, had minor injuries when arrested. He is described as an asylum seeker from Afghanistan who had a valid residence permit and work permit in Germany.
The crowd he drove into consisted of people participating in a union demonstration for higher wages and better working conditions in the public sector.
It is unclear whether the deed was directed at the specific demonstration or at a randomly selected crowd. So far, there is no information about connections to the international security conference that began in Munich on Friday.
Several Acts of Violence
Germany has been hit by a series of high-profile acts of violence and terrorist attacks recently, with perpetrators from Afghanistan, which has made the migration issue central ahead of the election in just over a week.
Germany's Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier participated in a silent memorial service before Friday's press conference, along with, among others, Markus Söder, who leads the state government of Bavaria, Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, and Munich's Mayor Dieter Reiter. Representatives from the church and the trade union Verdi, which organized Thursday's demonstration, were also present.
