Police detain three after German car-ramming injures 5 near Hannover
Three people were held at a car owner's address after the vehicle rammed a group near Hannover, injuring at least 5; police say it was not terrorism.
German police have detained three people after a car rammed deliberately into a group of people near Hannover late on Monday, injuring at least 5, as investigators said they do not believe it was a terrorist attack.
The three were found at the address of the registered owner of the car used in the attack, in Neustadt am Rübenberge, and are being held while investigators establish their link to the incident, police said.
A police spokeswoman said the driver struck the group deliberately, singling them out rather than hitting them at random, on Mecklenhorster Straße at around 23:30. Officers carrying out a nearby traffic stop heard the incident and opened fire on the car to try to stop it.
Investigators believe those involved knew each other and said the people linked to the attack belong to extended families that have previously come to police attention over clan-related crime. Officers said there was no danger to the wider public.
At least 5 people were hurt, some seriously though none in danger of their lives, police said; earlier reports had put the toll at four to five. The suspects abandoned the car, a blue BMW with a flat front tyre, and fled on foot; a search for them was initially unsuccessful.
Police cordoned off the area, including Herzog-Erich-Allee and Hannoversche Straße between Ludwig-Enneccerus-Platz and Am Schützenplatz, to preserve evidence, and the roads remained closed on Tuesday morning. A second car, a silver Mercedes with a smashed rear window, was also at the scene; it was not immediately clear if it was involved.
Police deployed heavily armed officers and a helicopter, backed by fire and ambulance crews, during the overnight operation, a news agency reporter at the scene said. Several vehicles in the area were left with flat tyres, a smashed rear windscreen and bullet holes from the gunfire aimed at stopping the suspects' car.
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What we know
- 1 outlet A car rammed deliberately into a group of people in Neustadt am Rübenberge, near Hannover, late on Monday, injuring at least 5.
- 1 outlet Police detained three people at the address of the car's registered owner.
- 1 outlet Investigators say it was not a terror attack, linking it to a feud between extended families with a record of clan-related crime.
- 1 outlet The suspects fled on foot after abandoning the car; roads near the scene remain closed for forensic work.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed The exact number of people injured and of suspects involved.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Figure history
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Why it matters for Europe
The decision by officers to open fire on a moving vehicle to stop it is unusual for German police, who said the attackers appeared to have targeted the group deliberately rather than at random. The incident triggered a large deployment of police, fire and ambulance crews, including a helicopter, while investigators continue to establish a motive.
Sources
Reported by 27 reports from 23 independent outlets in 11 countries.
- Tagesspiegel: Polizei schießt auf den Wagen, um ihn zu stoppen: Auto fährt bei Hannover in Menschengruppe – mehrere Personen verletzt
- Der Spiegel: Neustadt am Rübenberge: Auto fährt in Menschengruppe - mehrere Verletzte
- Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ): Auto fährt nahe Hannover in Menschengruppe – mehrere Verletzte
- Rheinische Post: Täter auf der Flucht: Auto fährt in Menschengruppe – Polizei schießt auf Wagen
- Stern: Täter auf der Flucht: Auto fährt in Menschengruppe - Polizei schießt auf Wagen
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- How many people were hurt in the Hannover-area car attack?
- Police said four to five people were injured, some seriously, though an exact figure had not been confirmed.
- Why did police shoot at the car?
- Officers conducting a nearby traffic check opened fire to try to stop the vehicle after it drove into the group.
- Have the attackers been caught?
- No. The suspects abandoned the car and fled on foot, and a search for them was unsuccessful in the hours after the attack.
This article was written with AI assistance from 27 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.