Life sentence sought in deadly Munich car attack trial

German prosecutors on Tuesday demanded a life sentence in the murder trial over last year's deadly car attack on a demonstration in Munich.

"The act was - and this must be stated plainly - designed to destroy human lives," one of the two prosecution representatives told the Munich Higher Regional Court.

"There is no doubt that the defendant deliberately steered the car into the crowd," the prosecutor added in a closing argument lasting around two hours. 

In the attack on a Verdi trade union march in February 2025, a mother and her young daughter were killed, and numerous others were injured, some critically.

Federal prosecutors charged the 25-year-old Afghan national with double murder, attempted murder in 22 cases and - predominantly aggravated - bodily harm in 22 further cases. 

The prosecutors demanded a life sentence with a determination of particular severity of guilt, a move under German law that would make release on parole after 15 years significantly harder.

Federal prosecutors consider the attack to have been a religiously motivated political act. 

In the defendant's perception, the attack corresponded to the will of Allah and was a justified response to the actions of the US and other Western states in Gaza and Afghanistan. 

Personal emotional factors also played a role, a prosecution representative said: "The defendant made people the object of his anger, disappointment and bitterness, even though they had no part whatsoever in bringing about his state of mind."

Closing arguments from lawyers representing co-plaintiffs, and potentially the co-plaintiffs themselves, were due to follow on Tuesday afternoon. 

The defence's closing argument and the defendant's final statement are scheduled for Wednesday. 

The verdict is expected on August 6.