For my international (but also German) followers. Today 2025-03-03 another car attack happened, this time in the city of Mannheim. 2 people died, 5 severely injured. But as it was a Ford Fiesta, driven by a 40 year old German, it didn't make the cut for being that newsworthy compared to the Munich and Magdeburg attacks. That only happens when the religion or skin color of the suspect promises public outcry from the (far) right, it seems. At least The Guardian did its job https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/03/mannheim-germany-car-driven-into-crowd
Two dead after car driven into crowds in German city of Mannheim

Woman, 83, and man, 54, killed and several injured after attack by SUV driver during carnival celebrations

The Guardian
(as always in these cases, when it is a 40 year old, white German male with a known far right background, the authorities now talk about a confused person with mental issues. It's only political when you have darker skin and are not christian. Which makes tha Magdeburg case of a converted christian with Saudi heritage so complicated for them to explain.)
Funny how many in the replies focus on “but it was in the news for a while” which is true, but not my point. Read my original post again. I compared the newsworthiness to the Magdeburg and Munich attacks.

Another thing that didn't really make the cut: the suspect was immediately chased by a brave taxi driver who managed to get him and his car locked in a cul-de-sac. The suspect left his car, shot at the taxi driver and ran away, to be arrested by the police shortly after. The name of the taxi driver? Muhammad Afzal.

https://www.mannheim24.de/mannheim/mutiger-taxifahrer-stoppt-den-todesfahrer-von-mannheim-93605651.html

„Ein richtiger Held“ – dieser mutige Taxifahrer stoppt den Todesfahrer von Mannheim

Mannheim - Eine Stadt unter Schock. Offenbar stoppt Taxifahrer Muhammad Afzal den Todesfahrer von Mannheim und bringt sich dabei selbst in höchste Gefahr.

And while the authorities try to keep the "person with mental issues" legend alive, it turns out the suspect has a well-documented history of being involved in far-right groups. Article in German. https://exif-recherche.org/?p=12670
Täter aus Mannheim Teil einer Neonazigruppe

@jwildeboer being in a far-right group is a mental issue...

@jwildeboer I presume you read Dutch?

https://nos.nl/l/2558301

Taxi-held reed dader klem die in Mannheim op menigte inreed

De 50-jarige taxichauffeur Afzal Muhammad wordt in Duitsland gevierd als held. Hij zette met zijn taxi de achtervolging in.

@jwildeboer like the Syrian delivery driver who stopped the Villach attack recently
@jwildeboer Warum wird diese besondere Tat des Herrn Afzal nicht größer thematisiert? Hoffentlich wird er Ende 2025 von Herrn Jauch zum Jahresrückblick „Menschen 2025“ eingeladen. Oder beim Frank Steinmeyer auf einen Kaffee für so einen Orden…mein Held von Mannheim ist er jedenfalls. Danke Herr Afzal. Dankeschön

@jwildeboer
ZDF heute managed to spin it.
"Not even one year after the Islamic knive attack there"

I am so annoyed by this kind of spins.

@jwildeboer I listen to the french news. I can assure you it wasn't in the news, while the others were; further proving your point IMHO.
@Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:
when it is a 40 year old, white German male with a known far right background, the authorities now talk about a confused person with mental issues

...which is pretty much accurate, of course 😉
Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange: (@[email protected])

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@jwildeboer
Spannend, das mit dem rechten Hintergrund hat es nicht in die @tagesschau geschafft
Echt traurig, wie blind das rechte Auge immer noch ist.

Aber Antifaschisten sind gefährlich 🤡

@jwildeboer other than the obvious whitewashing the stated observation of ‘confused with mental issues’ seems apt to me. Who in his right mind is like that?