One killed as driver rams into crowd in German city - as hospital prepares for 'mass casualty incident'

Police say they believe there is no current danger to the public in Mannheim. 

"According to the current status of the investigations, it is a lone perpetrator who has already been apprehended," police said in an update.

"Indications of a second perpetrator cannot be confirmed at this time. 

"There is currently no danger to the population!"

There's been a spate of ramming attacks across Germany in recent months (see 13.39 post).

However, it's still unclear whether today's incident in Mannheim was accidental or deliberate. 

Nonetheless, the driver of the car has been arrested - and a reminder that at least one person has been killed. 

 These are the latest images we have from the scene, showing armed police and forensic investigators at work.

Again, it's unclear whether the car they are looking at is the car involved in the ramming. 

Earlier reports suggested the vehicle involved was an SUV, so this car may have just been caught up in the ramming and damaged - it's not yet clear.

If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know. 

At least one person has died after a car was driven into a group of pedestrians in the western German city of Mannheim - with a large police operation under way.

• Several were "seriously injured" after a black vehicle rammed into crowds;
• A witness told Reuters they saw people lying on the ground and two being resuscitated;
• A suspect has been taken into custody, police spokesperson Stefan Wilhelm said;
• People who live nearby have been told to stay inside their homes;
• Wilhelm said that the "incident" unfolded at around 12.15pm local time in a pedestrianised part of Mannheim's Paradeplatz area.

Mannheim Police have taken to social media urging people not to share videos "from the crime scene or the ongoing operation".

They say an online portal will be set up as soon as possible, where pictures and videos can be uploaded "for investigative purposes".

This has been followed up by another post from the police force on X, in which they say there is currently "fake news in circulation in connection with the crime".

New pictures show the scale of some of the damage after today's car ramming in Mannheim.

Two of the images show a car with a smashed windscreen and damage to the front. 

Earlier reports suggested the vehicle involved was an SUV, so this car may have just been caught up in the ramming and damaged - it's not yet clear.

However, it's obviously of interest to investigators at the scene - the vehicle is cordoned off and forensic officers have been pictured around it.

Another image shows a crushed rollator or walking aid, lying crumpled on the street.

A witness has described the scene to local media, saying "it's terrible here".

"Nobody knows what happened," they told Mannheimer Morgen.

"You only see injured people and the dead, and you don't know what to do."

 Armed police are at the scene in Mannheim after a car was driven into pedestrians.

Earlier, we brought you German media reports that officers with guns were being deployed to checkpoints on roads and bridges leading out of the city.

But as you would expect, the police response in the city centre close to the scene of the suspected attack is considerable, too.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has cancelled her appearance at an event following the incident in Mannheim.

Faeser was due to attend the carnival street parade in Cologne. Many people have taken the weekend off to celebrate the carnival season, including Rose Monday, as cities hold parades.

"The focus is now on saving lives, treating the injured and the initial investigations by the authorities in Mannheim," a spokesperson told German news agency dpa.

It happened along what can best be described as Mannheim's High Street - a quarter dotted with department stores, restaurants, and public squares. 

The area is primarily pedestrianised.

Nearby is the Wasserturm, or Water Tower, one of the town's main landmarks. 

Just a few blocks away are the local university, Mannheim Palace, and the Rhine River.