Munich in a state of emergency: trial for devastating attack started

Munich in a state of emergency: trial for devastating attack started

On January 16, 2026, the trial surrounding the momentous attack on a demonstration by the ver.di union began in Munich. The incident occurred on February 13, 2025, when the 25-year-old defendant, Farhad N., drove a car into the demonstration, which led to the tragedy. This attack killed a 37-year-old engineer and her two-year-old daughter, while 44 other people were affected, including eight seriously and ten moderately injured. The federal prosecutor's office is now accusing the defendant of two counts of murder and 44 counts of attempted murder. Tagesschau reports that The start of the process was initially delayed by 45 minutes because extensive entry controls were required.

The defendant refused to make any statement during the first session and appeared confident: he covered his face behind a red folder and thus created an oppressive atmosphere in the courtroom. His defense attorney, Johann Bund, confirmed the defendant's silence. The investigation turns out that Farhad N. scared several witnesses at the crime scene by exclaiming “Allahu Akbar” and then prayed. He himself admitted that he had gone to the demonstration for “excessive religious motivations,” which is likely to further solidify the evidence of Islamist terrorism as a motive.

Details about the attack

The attack occurred at 10:31 a.m. on Seidlstrasse in Munich when Farhad N. overtook a police car, accelerated and drove with full force into the end of the demonstration. Chaos broke out, the scenario was so dramatic that a massive police operation with around 300 officers was necessary. The emergency departments of the clinics were converted as a matter of emergency because a mass casualty incident (MANV) was declared. Wikipedia's entries clarify that the defendant came to Germany in 2016 as an unaccompanied minor refugee. His asylum application was rejected in 2017, but he received a toleration notice in 2021, especially after the Taliban came to power.

Although Farhad N. was considered very religious and shared religiously motivated posts on social media, there is so far no evidence of connections to Islamist terrorist organizations or psychological problems. Nevertheless, public pressure is increasing due to politicians such as Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who called for the perpetrator to be deported, and the statements of the Bavarian Interior Minister Herrmann and the Mayor of Munich Reiter, who expressed his concern. Tagesschau highlights that the first trial dates have been scheduled until the summer and a verdict could possibly be reached as early as June 25, 2026.

Reactions and commemorations

The attack not only had devastating consequences for the victims and their families, but also sparked numerous demonstrations and memorial events. They tried not only to condole the terrible event, but also to take a stand against the political instrumentalization of the incident. In memory of the deceased Amel and Hafsa, a memorial was inaugurated on Flaucher to keep the memory of the victims alive. The Wikipedia entry emphasizes how important it is to remember and address the causes of violence in our society.