Munich crash LIVE: Car rams into crowds of pedestrians in Bavarian capital as people seen ‘crying and shaking’

Police have confirmed the driver is a 24-year-old Afghan national.

The asylum seeker was apparently previously known to police for drug and shoplifting offences.

The head of the Verdi union has told Bild she heard the car drove into crowds of protesters ‘on purpose’.

Claudia Weber, who was in Munich but waiting for the demonstration at Königsplatz, said:

It’s all so unbelievable. We are totally shocked and are incredibly afraid for our colleagues who were part of the demonstration. We heard that the car drove straight into the demonstration on purpose. Hopefully there will be no deaths.

The newspaper reported workers at the city’s hospitals, leisure centres and nurseries were among those demanding a pay increase as part of the demonstration earlier today.

A major police operation is taking place in the German city of Munich this morning after a car rammed into crowds of pedestrians to leave at least 20 people injured.

As we report live updates from this breaking news story, here’s what we know so far:

• A driver of a white Mini Cooper drove into crowds of pedestrians demonstrating in Munich for increased pay amid reports more than 1,000 people attended the rally organised by the Verdi union
• The male motorist was arrested at the scene. German media reports state shots may have been fired by police before the man was apprehended while police are unable to confirm whether the man was alone at the time of the crash
• German police say at least 20 people have been injured, two seriously, while a fire chief has confirmed some are in a life-threatening condition
• Witnesses reported seeing a mother and her child under the car while a journalist reported people ‘shaking and crying’ on the ground
• The crash took place as people walked out of their jobs to demand higher pay and on the eve of the Munich security conference where US Vice-President JD Vance and Ukrainian President are expected to attend

These pictures show investigators examining the car which earlier rammed into crowds of demonstrators in Munich city centre.

Police officers and dogs have scoured the white coloured Mini Cooper as part of an investigation into the incident.

A German fire chief has confirmed some of those injured in the crash are in a critical condition.

Munich fire service spokesman Bernhard Peschke told AFP:

At the moment there are 20 injured, several of them seriously and some of them in a life-threatening condition.

Meanwhle police have now confirmed two people are seriously injured.

In a post on X, Munich Police said caring for the injured is the number priority.

The latest photographs we can show from Munich show multiple ambulances at the scene as a police cordon is put in place.

The cordon has been put in place around a white coloured Mini Cooper which was driven into crowds of pedestrians earlier this morning.

Police have confirmed at least 20 people have been injured.

We are starting to see the first witness accounts reported in the German media following the crash in Munich city centre

An eyewitness has told German newspaper Bild a mother and child were ‘apparently lying under the car’ while a protester told Bayerischer Rundfunk he saw a man underneath the vehicle.

German police have set up a witness collection point at Am Löwenbräukeller on Stiglmaierplatz.

Police in Munich have confirmed around 20 people have been injured as a result of the crash.

Authorities said rescue helicopters had been scrambled to the city with the severity of the injuries not known at this stage.

A German journalist who shared a pictured a picture of the crash on her X account has told how people were ‘crying and shaking’ on the ground following the crash.

Sandra Demmelhuber, a Bavarian-based reporter, said she saw a young man taken away by police as she shared an image of officers surrounding a white coloured Mini Cooper.

There was an incident in Munich at the Verdi rally. A car drove into the demonstration. A person was lying on the street and a young man was taken away by the police. People were sitting on the ground, crying and shaking. Details are still unclear.

The crash has taken place as world defence leaders including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky gather in the Bavarian city for a major security conference.

In a statement, the Munich Security Conference has urged people to remain calm and follow instructions from local police.

Crowds of people were demonstrating in Munich at the time of the crash.

According to German newspaper Bild, many city employees had walked out today to demand an eight percent pay increase, higher bonuses and three additional days off.

The Verdi union had organised the protest.

Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) told BILD:

The police chief has just informed me that a vehicle drove into a group of people and unfortunately many people were injured, including children. I am deeply shocked. My thoughts are with the injured.

Here are the latest photographs we can show you from Munich where a major police operation is under way after a car was driven into crowds of pedestrians.

We will bring you the latest developments on this breaking news story.

Police said on social platform X, formerly Twitter, that the driver was “secured” at the scene and no longer poses any danger.

Regional public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk reported that the people who were hurt were apparently participating in a strike.

German media outlets have reported shots were fired during the incident but authorities are yet to confirm this.

Read our breaking news story on MailOnline after a car crashed into pedestrians in the heart of Munich.

German media are reporting at least 15 people have been injured,

Hello and welcome to our live coverage as a car has crashed into crowds of pedestrians in the German city of Munich.

At least 15 people are reported to be injured after a vehicle was driven into people in the centre of the Bavarian state capital.

Police have said the driver of vehicle has been secured at the scene and poses no further danger. Social media reports indicate the motorist may have been shot.

Stick with us for live updates on this breaking news story.