Police hunt suspects after car rams pedestrians in Neustadt am Ruebenberge

BERLIN, Oct 27 (OPA) — Authorities in Germany are searching for multiple suspects following a deliberate vehicle-ramming incident in the town of Neustadt am Ruebenberge, near Hanover. The incident occurred shortly before midnight on Monday when a BMW was steered into a group of pedestrians. A police patrol conducting a routine traffic check in the immediate vicinity intervened, firing shots at the vehicle to prevent further casualties.

Four to five individuals sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe, according to a police spokesperson. Emergency services, including armed units, a police helicopter, and canine teams, were deployed to the scene, which remained cordoned off for several hours. All injured parties were transported to local hospitals, and officials confirmed that none of the victims are currently in life-threatening condition.

Initial findings from the ongoing investigation suggest that the victims and the suspects were known to each other, indicating the attack was targeted rather than random. The occupants of the BMW abandoned the vehicle and remain at large. Police have not yet released the identities of the suspects or the specific motive behind the incident, noting that the sequence of events remains under active review.

This incident follows a separate vehicle-ramming attack in Berlin earlier this year. On July 25, 2026, a 21-year-old suspect, identified as Abdul Ballout, drove a van into a crowd during the Christopher Street Day parade, resulting in one death and 29 injuries. Ballout was subsequently killed by police during an operation in Spandau. German authorities continue to process evidence from the Neustadt site as the manhunt for the current suspects proceeds.