(Waldkraiburg) Seven people, including a 6-year-old child, were killed and 16 others injured, some seriously, on the night of Thursday to Friday after the accident of a minibus during an alleged illegal crossing at the German border -Austrian.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said she was “distraught” after this road accident which occurs in a context of increased police checks along smugglers’ routes after a very sharp increase in recent months in illegal immigration to Germany.
The minibus, which was carrying 23 people, including children, wanted to escape a check on the highway in Bavaria, around fifty kilometers from the border between Austria and Germany, near Waldkraiburg, police said. local in a press release.
PHOTO CHRISTOF STACHE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The passengers of the minibus are Syrian and Turkish nationals, the driver is stateless, this source further detailed after an initial verification of identities.
The police and the public prosecutor’s office have opened an investigation, notably for homicide, against the alleged smuggler, a 24-year-old stateless person living in Austria. The suspect, injured, was declared in pre-trial detention in hospital.
The smuggler, who was driving the Mercedes Vito minibus, registered in Austria, accelerated to escape a police check.
The overloaded vehicle went further off the road and overturned at an intersection between the Bavarian municipalities of Ampfing and Waldkraiburg around 9:15 p.m. (Eastern time), according to police.
PHOTO SVEN HOPPE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Illegal crossings generally take place at night, which attracts less attention and prevents vehicles from ending up in traffic jams.
Photos show the overturned, heavily damaged vehicle stuck on a highway guardrail.
The vehicle was traveling towards Munich, the Bavarian capital.
The injured, some of whom were seriously affected, were transported to nearby hospitals by ambulance and four helicopters.
Debate on migration policy
This accident comes as the transport of illegal migrants has increased in the border regions with Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland.
Since the start of the year, more than 70,000 illegal entries have been recorded in Germany, an increase of almost 60% compared to the same period last year.
As for asylum requests, they increased by 77% compared to 2022 (204,000 compared to 115,000), according to official statistics.
Recently in Bavaria, the police reported other chases with smugglers, who were finally arrested.
Since the beginning of October, the government of Olaf Scholz has strengthened border controls on Germany’s eastern flank.
The arrival of illegal migrants, mostly of Syrian and Afghan origin, is causing a lively debate in the country whose reception capacities are being tested.
“The number of people who are currently coming to us is too high,” Mr. Scholz, leader of the Social Democrats who leads a coalition with environmentalists and liberals, insisted again this week.
The German Chancellor is holding a meeting with several national and regional politicians on Friday to discuss new measures to stem illegal immigration.
“We must dismantle the cruel trade of smuggling gangs” who “put people’s lives at risk in cruel and inhumane ways,” said Ms.me Faeser Friday.
Since February 2022, Germany has also welcomed more than a million Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country invaded by Russia.
The migration issue, at the top of public opinion’s agenda, is being exploited by the far right, which obtained record results in two regional elections last Sunday.