30 People Hospitalized After Man Drives Through Crowd During Parade In Germany

KEY POINTS

Driver allegedly drove through plastic barricades along parade path to celebrate Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday
Witnesses reportedly told police the driver was targeting children in the crowd before stopping
Around 30 people were hospitalized with injuries from the incident along the driver, who remains under police supervision while receiving treatment for their own injuries

German police arrested a man who allegedly drove through a crowd, hospitalizing 30 people, during a parade in the town of Volkmarsen, Germany.

The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. as parade gatherers celebrated Rosenmontag, which takes place on the Monday before the start of Lent. The suspected driver, 29, drove a silver Mercedes-Benz through plastic barricades along the parade's path and into a group of bystanders.

Witnesses reportedly told police the driver “intentionally” drove the crowd and allegedly targeted children.

Around 30 people were reportedly injured by the suspected driver and were rushed to nearby hospitals to receive treatment for their injuries, though no one was killed. The suspected driver was reportedly injured as well for “the injuries he suffered in connection with the incident” and was being treated under police custody.

Police said he would be brought before a judge when “his health allows.”

The interior ministry of the federal state of Hesse said a “special unit” had been set up at Frankfurt Police Headquarters to investigate the incident. It has reportedly been working with the North Hessen Police to prevent the spread of false information about the incident and has asked anyone with photos or videos of the incident to contact police immediately.

North Hessen Police also said all carnival events scheduled for Monday in Hesse were canceled as a precaution.