Afghan national admits to Munich car attack that injured 39

Munich Car Attack: Investigation into the Suspect’s Extremist Motives

On February 14, 2025, a car attack in Munich, Germany, left 39 people injured, with two victims, including a child, in critical condition. The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker Farhad N., allegedly drove his vehicle into a labor protest, intentionally targeting the crowd.

Initial investigations indicate that the suspect had extremist tendencies. Following the attack, he reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” and prayed while in custody. Prosecutors stated that he confessed to deliberately carrying out the attack with a “religious motivation.” However, no direct ties between him and terrorist organizations such as ISIS have been found so far.

Farhad N. arrived in Germany in 2016 and, despite having his asylum request rejected, managed to stay in the country legally. He was employed in the security sector and was deeply involved in religious activities, frequently attending a mosque and sharing religious content online. Authorities also confirmed that he did not exhibit any signs of mental illness.

The attack occurred just before the Munich Security Conference and the crucial German elections on February 23, where immigration has been a central topic of debate. In recent months, several similar attacks—including a stabbing in Aschaffenburg and a Christmas market attack in Magdeburg—have fueled heated discussions on immigration policies.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, along with state officials, visited the attack site and paid tribute to the victims. Meanwhile, conservative parties have intensified their calls for stricter immigration laws. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government had already introduced tougher asylum regulations and accelerated deportations, including to Afghanistan. Investigations into the suspect’s motives and possible connections are still ongoing.