Leipzig (Germany) (AFP) - The trial of a man suspected of plowing his car into a crowd of people in the German city of Leipzig in May, killing two people, began Monday.
Published on: 02/11/2026 - 14:25
The attack is one of a series of similar run-over incidents that Germany has witnessed in recent years, carried out by people with different motives.
The 34-year-old accused, whose identity was partially revealed as Jeffrey K., faces two counts of murder and 85 counts of attempted murder, after he rushed his car into the middle of a crowded main street in the historic center of Leipzig at a speed of up to 90 kilometers per hour.
The attack resulted in the death of a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man, and the injury of several others.
Prosecutor Ulrich Jakob told the court that many witnesses "still suffer psychological problems" as a result of the attack.
The defendant was receiving treatment for mental health problems during the month preceding the attack, but a court-ordered evaluation did not conclude that his criminal responsibility was diminished.
Jacob added that Jeffrey K. He planned the attack and chose his location “deliberately” with the aim of harming the largest number of people.
He added that the accused wanted to “draw public attention” and “believed he had nothing more to lose” after separating from his wife.
The accused, who was wearing a hooded jacket, followed the proceedings of the session without showing any emotion, and only spoke to confirm his personal information.
The defense lawyer said that the attack represents a “human tragedy of shocking proportions,” and that his client was suffering from “a situation that he felt was hopeless,” which later deteriorated due to a dispute with his wife over custody of their son.
The trial is expected to continue until July 2027.
In July, a jihadist killed one person and injured about 30 others after he rammed his car into participants in a gay parade in Berlin and attacked them with a machete.
The police shot dead the suspect who carried out the attack the next day, following an intense chase.
© 2026 AFP
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