Mannheim car ramming attack suspect a German with history of mental illness, say investigators

The suspected perpetrator in the car ramming attack which has killed at least two people in Mannheim on Monday is a 40-year-old German from Ludwigshafen with previous convictions related to drunk driving and right-wing hate speech.

A 40-year-old German from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate has been detained in relation to the car ramming attack on Monday, which killed at least two people and injured 10 others.

During a press conference on Monday night, investigators said that there were indications the suspect was mentally ill, with this being the focus of their investigation. He has now been charged with murder and attempted murder, according to Chief Public Prosecutor Romeo Schüssler.

The man has previous convictions, according to Schüssler, including one for drunk driving. He was also convicted of a hate speech-related crime in 2018 after he commented on a picture on Facebook, in what was adjudged to have been a politically motivated right-wing crime.

The suspected perpetrator was taken to hospital after shooting himself in the mouth with a blank gun, according to investigators. He is currently being treated and is in a stable condition.

Read more: Euro News