German judge orders car-ramming suspect sent to psychiatric hospital

Two people were killed after a car tore into a crowd in central Leipzig, and the 33-year-old man accused of carrying out the attack has now been committed to a psychiatric hospital by court order.

A judge said there were “compelling reasons” to believe the suspect was acting “in a state of at least significantly diminished responsibility”, prosecutors in Leipzig said in a statement.

According to investigators, the German national drove at high speed along a main street in the historic heart of the eastern city yesterday, leaving two people dead and several more injured.

The latest attack has revived fears in Germany, which has seen several car-ramming incidents in recent years, among them the 2024 assault on a Christmas market in Magdeburg and earlier attacks in Berlin and Munich.

Mourners left flowers and candles at a makeshift memorial in Leipzig near the scene of the attack

Authorities said they have found no indication of a political or religious motive, although they believe the car-ramming was intentional. The suspect was arrested at the scene.

Prosecutors allege that the man “wanted to kill and seriously injure as many people as possible”.

They added that he had already come to the attention of police earlier this year over “making threats and for defamation-related offences”, but gave no further details.

In a separate statement to AFP, regional health officials said that while he was in hospital, he was not considered a danger to himself or to others.

“There were therefore no medical grounds to prevent the patient, who was in the clinic of his own free will, from leaving the clinic or to detain him there against his will,” they said.

Authorities declined to elaborate on his condition, citing patient confidentiality.

The two victims were identified as a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man, both German citizens.

Police said six other people, aged between 21 and 87, were hurt, including two who suffered serious injuries.

More than 80 others were treated for “the psychological impact of what they experienced”, police said.

‘Deeply affected’

Police said the suspect is under investigation on suspicion of double murder and multiple counts of attempted murder, and investigators believe he acted alone.

The street where the attack unfolded remained sealed off as officers continued to examine the area.

At a church on the grounds of a nearby university, Heidi Rheinsdorf said she had come to Leipzig to stand with the city in the aftermath of the violence.

The 32-year-old said she was “shocked” when she learned of the attack, adding: “I just don’t understand why (the alleged perpetrator) did it.

“I just feel so sorry for the people.”

Dalyan Unland, a 20-year-old university student, said he was “deeply affected by the fact that people died… in a place where I walk every day”.

Lynn Sue Leiste said she had to summon all her courage to visit the church and place two white roses and a candle at a makeshift memorial.

The 25-year-old said she had been “extremely worried” because her sister had been on the street at the time.

She said the perpetrator “must be locked up forever”, and added that “security measures really could have been strengthened”.