A shocking incident in Munich has reignited fierce debate over Germany’s immigration policies after a man rammed a car into a group of protesters, leaving 28 injured—two of them, including a toddler, in critical condition. The suspect? A 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker whose application had been rejected but was still allowed to stay in the country.
The attack, carried out with a Mini Cooper that was left battered at the scene, immediately set off a wave of political reactions. Bavarian leader Markus Söder wasted no time blaming Germany’s open-border policies, calling for urgent changes. “It’s simply unbearable,” he declared, pointing to a similar attack in January, where another Afghan immigrant allegedly stabbed a kindergarten group.
Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann confirmed that the suspect, identified as “Farhad N.” by German media, had arrived in 2016, only to have his asylum request denied. Yet, authorities couldn’t deport him due to legal constraints. Reports also surfaced that he had a criminal record for drug offenses and shoplifting and had posted Islamist content online.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack, vowing that if it was indeed terrorism, “we must take decisive action with the full force of the law.” He insisted that the perpetrator must face justice—and be deported.
With just days before national elections, the incident has given fresh ammunition to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has long criticized Germany’s asylum policies. AfD leaders accused the government of failing to protect its citizens, blasting early media coverage for describing the attack as a “car crash” instead of an intentional act.
Alice Weidel, AfD’s co-leader, demanded immediate migration reforms. “Women and children were among the victims again. How long will this go on? Change is needed—now.”
Meanwhile, anti-migration activist Martin Sellner claimed the attack deliberately targeted a trade union demonstration organized by Ver.di, one of Germany’s largest labor unions. The group had recently called for resistance against right-wing forces, including the AfD, branding them “enemies of democracy.”
Fabio De Masi, a left-wing MEP and Ver.di member, condemned the attack but warned that mishandling integration only fueled far-right narratives. “We need to fix this, or we’re just playing into AfD’s hands,” he said.
As tensions rise, one thing is clear—Germany’s migration debate isn’t cooling down anytime soon.
