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Suspect in Munich car attack had ‘Islamist motivation,’ prosecutor says

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The suspect accused of injuring more than 30 people in a car ramming attack in Munich, Germany, appears to have been motivated by Islamic extremism, prosecutors revealed Friday. 

The 24-year-old Afghan, a self-described bodybuilder and fitness model, was arrested Thursday after he drove his Mini Cooper into the back of a labor union demonstration. The incident unfolded near where world leaders — including Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — were expected to gather for the Munich Security Conference. 

Prosecutor Gabriele Tilmann said that the suspect said «Allahu Akbar,» or «God is great,» to police and then prayed after his arrest — which prompted a department that investigates extremism and terror to take on the case immediately. 

In questioning, he admitted deliberately driving into the demonstration and «gave an explanation that I would summarize as religious motivation,» Tilmann said, according to the Associated Press. «According to all we know at the moment, I would venture to speak of an Islamist motivation.» 

CAR DRIVER IN MUNICH PLOWS INTO CROWD 

A car is lifted onto a tow truck at the scene where a driver drove into a labor union demonstration in Munich, Germany, on Thursday Feb. 13. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP)

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However, there were no indications the suspect was in any Islamic extremist organization, she reportedly added. 

Tilmann also announced Friday that the suspect, who arrived in Germany as an asylum-seeker in 2016 and lived in Munich, posted content with religious references — such as «Allah, protect us always» — on social media. 

The attack left 36 people injured, and the suspect is now facing 36 counts of attempted murder as well as bodily harm and dangerous interference with road traffic. 

PLANE CARRYING SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO RESUMES FLIGHT TO MUNICH AFTER MECHANICAL ISSUE 

Police investigate Munich attack scene

Police investigate the scene of the car ramming attack in Munich, Germany on Thursday. (Matthias Balk/dpa via AP)

The deputy head of Bavaria’s state criminal police office, Guido Limmer, said investigators found a chat, apparently with relatives, in which the suspect wrote «perhaps I won’t be there anymore tomorrow,» but so far they have found nothing that points to concrete preparations for the attack or anyone else being involved. 

The man had no previous convictions and had a valid residence permit. Tilmann also said there was no indication of mental illness. 

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier reportedly laid a flower at the attack scene Friday morning, where he condemned «the brutality of this act» and said that it «leaves us stunned.» 

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Memorial at Munich attack site

Markus Soeder, Prime Minister of Bavaria, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Dieter Reiter, Mayor of Munich, from right, bring flowers on Friday, Feb. 14, to the site of the attack in Munich. (AP/Ebrahim Noroozi)

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A spokesperson for the vice president told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that Vance and President Zelenskyy will meet on the sidelines of the conference, where the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is likely to be a focus.  

Fox News’ Rachel Wolf and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.


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Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after Hamas’ ‘humiliating’ treatment of hostages, Netanyahu says

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Israel will delay the seventh hostage-prisoner exchange in protest of Hamas’ «humiliating» treatment of hostages, according to Israeli officials.

The release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, which was scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Sunday morning, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement condemning Hamas propaganda generated during the exchange.

«In light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies,» the office’s statement said.

The statement came after reports of Hamas fighters exploiting Israeli prisoners while they were being released. On Saturday, five of the six freed hostages were accompanied by armed militants in front of a crowd, including three Israeli hostages who posed alongside terrorists.

HAMAS FREES THREE MORE HOSTAGES IN EXCHANGE FOR MORE THAN 300 PRISONERS AS PART OF CEASEFIRE DEAL WITH ISRAEL

Palestinians gather as Hamas fighters escort Red Cross vehicles ahead of the handover of Israeli hostages in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen were among the hostages forced to pose with the terrorists. Shem Tov was also forced to appear cheerful, kiss two militants on the head and blew kisses to the crowd. 

The three also wore fake army uniforms, though they were not enlisted when they were captured by Hamas.

In another recent ceremony orchestrated by Hamas, four coffins were placed in front of a caricature of Netanyahu with a banner that said, «The war criminal Netanyahu & his Nazi army killed them with missiles from Zionist warplanes.»

REMAINS OF SHIRI BIBAS, MOM OF TWO KILLED, ALLEGEDLY RETURNED TO ISRAEL FOLLOWING HAMAS’ BROKEN PROMISE

Palestinians watching hostage hand over

Palestinian Hamas militants gather at the site of the handing over of the bodies of four Israeli hostages in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza Thursday. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Israeli United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon called the gesture «evil and depraved.»

«For 16 months, Israel has been fighting a deranged terrorist organization that places no value on human life, especially if it is Israeli or Jewish — all while international institutions like the U.N. refrained from condemning Hamas and formally demanding the immediate return of our hostages,» Danon said.

The United Nations also condemned the coffin incident.

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Tel Aviv demonstration in honor of Alon Ohel's 24th birthday

Israelis stand under placards with photos of hostages during a Feb. 10 rally marking the 24th birthday of Alon Ohel, who is held hostage by Hamas at hostages square. (Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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«Under international law, any handover of the remains of [the] deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,» the United Nations Geneva said on X, attributing the quote to High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.


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