A man suspected of ploughing a car into a crowd in the eastern German city of Leipzig, killing two people, had recently been treated for mental health problems, reports said Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The 33-year-old German national allegedly drove the vehicle Monday at high speed down a main street in the historic centre of the eastern city, leaving two people dead and many others injured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Germany has been shaken by a series of car-ramming attacks in recent years, including one targeting a Christmas market in 2024 in Magdeburg, and others in Berlin and Munich.<\/p>\n
The suspect in the Leipzig incident was arrested at the scene and officials have said they do not believe he had a political or religious motive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Authorities have not commented directly on his mental health but both the Bild daily and local broadcaster MDR reported that he had recently been receiving treatment in a psychiatric facility.<\/p>\n
Bild said he had admitted himself to the centre, but was asked to leave on Sunday due to aggressive behaviour towards other patients.<\/p>\n
It was not clear whether the institution had informed the police before his release, which they are required to do in cases where a patient could pose a danger, it said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On Tuesday morning, the street where the deadly incident happened was still cordoned off as police searched the area.<\/p>\n
At a church in the grounds of a university, Heidi Rheinsdorf said she had travelled to Leipzig from a nearby town to show support to the local community.<\/p>\n
Wiping back tears, the 32-year-old told AFP she was “shocked” when she heard about the car-ramming, adding: “I just don’t understand why (the alleged perpetrator) did it.<\/p>\n
“I just feel so sorry for the people.”<\/p>\n
A 63-year old woman and a 77-year old man, both German citizens, were killed in the incident. Authorities have said many others were injured, without giving a precise figure.<\/p>\n
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