Police in Germany on Tuesday arrested a man who allegedly attempted to drive his car into crowds of people, targeting foreigners.
The Associated Press reported that the unidentified 50-year-old driver injured at least four people after he drove into a crowd in Bottrop. Those hit by the car included citizens of Syria and Afghanistan, the AP reported.
The driver additionally tried to hit pedestrians elsewhere in Bottrop, but the targets were able to get out of the way, the AP reported. He later tried and failed to hit people waiting at a bus stop in the city of Essen, and was arrested a short time later on suspicion of attempted homicide.
{mosads}The suspect made anti-foreigner comments during his arrest, the AP reported.
“Investigating authorities are currently working on the assumption that this was a targeted attack, possibly motivated by the anti-foreigner views of the driver,” police said. Authorities added that the suspect showed signs of mental illness, the AP reported.
The attacks in Germany came within hours of a stabbing in the United Kingdom, which authorities there are investigating as terrorism. In addition, a car plowed into a crowd celebrating the new year in Tokyo, injuring at least eight people.