The suspect who rammed his car into the crowd gathered for a demonstration in the city of Munich, Germany, has been identified as 24-year-old Afghan refugee Ferhad Noori. A German prosecutor stated that the attack was committed with an “Islamist motivation.” But how did the assailant end up in Germany, and why did he carry out the attack? As a result of one individual driving his car into the demonstrators in the city center of Munich yesterday, at least 36 people, including a child, were injured.
This incident has brought the issue of security back into the spotlight ahead of the federal elections next week.
During a press conference, Prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann stated, “He confessed that he intentionally drove into the people participating in the demonstration. Based on everything we currently know, I can say that the crime was committed with an Islamist motivation.”
The attack occurred hours before international leaders, including United States Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, were set to travel to the southern German city for the Munich Security Conference.
So, what do we know about the assailant? Tilmann mentioned that there is no evidence linking the suspect, identified as Farhad Noori, to any radical Islamist or terrorist organization.
In 2016, at the age of 16, he traveled from Afghanistan to Italy as an unaccompanied refugee before reaching Germany.
He applied for asylum in February 2017, which was rejected. However, he was granted a residence and work permit until October 2023, which was later extended until April 2025. Initially, Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann stated that the suspect was recognized by the police, but later revealed that the suspect had worked as a store detective and had witnessed several theft cases.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann stated that the suspect did not have to leave the country due to security concerns in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Olaf Scholz demanded the immediate deportation of the assailant.
According to information from WELT, Noori was undergoing treatment for mental health problems.