Leipzig car rampage: Double murder charges filed in trial

Prosecutors in Leipzig have formally charged a 33-year-old man with two counts of murder and 85 counts of attempted murder following a deadly car rampage in the city's pedestrian zone in May. The indictment also includes charges of dangerous interference with road traffic in 91 cases.

The Leipzig Regional Court will now decide whether to accept the charges and proceed to trial. The suspect's defense attorney was not immediately available for comment. The incident on May 4, 2026, saw the man drive his car several hundred meters through the pedestrian zone, striking and killing a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man. Six other individuals, aged between 21 and 87, sustained injuries, with two in serious condition.

After the incident, the driver stopped the vehicle and was taken into custody without resistance. He was initially placed in a psychiatric clinic. However, a preliminary psychiatric evaluation did not indicate diminished capacity, leading prosecutors to request his transfer from the clinic and the issuance of an arrest warrant.

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The charge is double murder and attempted murder in 85 cases.

Authorities have stated there are no indications of a political or religious motive behind the attack. Investigations revealed the suspect had voluntarily sought psychiatric treatment shortly before the incident and had been released from a clinic in late April. He had also had previous minor encounters with police for offenses such as threats and defamation, none involving physical violence.

The incident prompted discussions about security in urban centers, particularly in pedestrian areas. The legal proceedings will now focus on determining the suspect's culpability and the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.

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The preliminary written report by the forensic-psychiatric expert did not reveal any indications of diminished capacity.