Münster: Lorry drives into crowd Culprit thought to be mentally ill
Münster · Two people have died and approximately 20 were injured when a man drove into a crowd of people sitting outside a traditional restaurant in Münster in the north part of North Rhine-Westphalia. The culprit is thought to be a mentally ill German.
Two people have died and approximately 20 were injured when a man drove into a crowd of people sitting outside a traditional restaurant in Münster in the north part of North Rhine-Westphalia. The culprit is thought to be a mentally ill German. After the crime he committed suicide by shooting himself in the van.
The amok driver is thought to be a 48-year-old German. „Nothing indicates an Islamist background,“ said the North Rhine-Westphalian Interior Minister, Herbert Reul (CDU).
Of the approximately 20 injured persons some were wounded severely, a few are still in a life threatening condition. The victims had been sitting outside a popular traditional restaurant enjoying the warm spring sun when the lorry crashed into the crowd.
The details and a possible motive are being currently investigated, according to the Interior Minister.
FAZ.net reported that the 48-year-old was originally from the Sauerland region, but had lived in Münster for a long time, in an apartment near the crime scene. It is not clear if the culprit acted alone or if he had accomplices as witnesses reported they saw two people jump out of the van. These witness accounts will be investigated now, according to a police spokesperson.
The police also examined a suspicious item in the vehicle to find out if there were explosives in the van. The police tweeted: „Please do not spread rumours online and avoid speculations.“
The Federal Government expressed its condolences to the victims of Münster and their relatives.
(Original text: GA, dpa. Translation: Mareike Graepel)
