The 24-year-old driver, an Afghan national, was shot at by police before being arrested. Officials said the suspect, identified as Farhad N., born in Kabul in 2001, was known to law enforcement and had a history of radical posts on social media before the incident.

What Happened?

The suspect initially followed the protest group and a police escort vehicle.
He then overtook the police car, accelerated, and plowed into the crowd, targeting the end of the demonstration.
Police fired a shot at his car before arresting him.

Authorities have not officially classified the act as terrorism but confirmed that the suspect had been on law enforcement’s radar and had previously posted Islamist content online.

Who Is the Suspect?

Farhad N. arrived in Germany in late 2016 during Angela Merkel’s asylum policy expansion.
His asylum request was rejected, but he later received a temporary suspension of deportation (Duldung).
He was registered in the Obersendling district of Munich.

Germany’s Response: Stricter Immigration Laws Impact All Asylum Seekers

This incident adds to a growing list of attacks involving radicalized asylum seekers in Germany in recent years. The German government has responded with stricter asylum and immigration policies, which now affect not only individuals from Syria and Afghanistan but also genuine asylum seekers from Africa and other regions.

Under tighter asylum rules, applicants now face:

Faster deportations for those with rejected applications.
Stricter background checks and surveillance of individuals with suspected extremist ties.
Increased immigration detention before deportation decisions.

Many African asylum seekers now face tougher scrutiny, despite having no links to Islamist extremism. Critics argue that these new laws unfairly punish those fleeing conflicts in Africa, creating greater hurdles for genuine refugees.

What’s Next?

German security officials are investigating whether the Munich attack was part of a larger extremist network.
The government continues to tighten asylum policies, increasing pressure on all refugee communities.
Rights groups warn that genuine asylum seekers could be caught in restrictive policies designed to curb radical threats.

Germany remains on high alert, with authorities emphasizing the need for security while ensuring fair treatment of legitimate asylum seekers.