Car ploughs into crowd in Stuttgart, killing one and injuring seven

Alsharq Tribune- AFP

A 46-year-old woman has died and several others were injured after a car drove into a group of pedestrians in central Stuttgart on Friday evening. The incident occurred around 5.50pm local time in the Olgaeck neighbourhood, according to police.

“Based on our current investigations, our colleagues on the ground believe this to be a tragic accident,” police said on their official X (formerly Twitter) account. The vehicle, a large black Mercedes SUV, struck multiple people in the city centre, initially leaving eight injured, three of them seriously.

One of the seriously injured victims, a 46-year-old woman, later succumbed to her injuries in hospital. According to the German daily Bild, a woman pushing a pram was among those hurt. A broken stroller remained at the scene well into the evening.

The driver of the SUV has been arrested, but authorities have not yet released further details about the individual. A police spokesperson told AFP that the investigation is ongoing.

German security services remain on high alert following a string of recent vehicle-ramming incidents, including deadly attacks in Magdeburg and Munich.

Police have urged the public to avoid the Stuttgart city centre due to significant traffic disruptions as emergency services continue their response.