Charges brought for two counts of murder over Leipzig vehicle rampage

The Public Prosecutor's Office has brought two murder charges against a 33-year-old man in connection with a fatal rampage in Leipzig city centre just under four months ago.

He is also charged with 85 counts of attempted murder, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office said on Friday in response to an enquiry.

In addition, the German national is accused of causing serious danger to road traffic in 91 instances.

In early May, the man drove his car several hundred metres through the pedestrian zone in Leipzig, striking people with his vehicle. A 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man died, and six people aged between 21 and 87 were injured, two of them seriously.

The driver subsequently brought the car to a halt himself and was arrested without resistance. He was initially admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

The spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office in Leipzig said the preliminary written report from the forensic psychiatrist had found no evidence of diminished responsibility.

No details were given regarding the background to or motives for the offence. However, investigators had previously stated that there were no indications of a political or religious motive.

Investigators said the 33-year-old had been receiving in-patient treatment at a psychiatric facility a few days before the rampage. He had been staying at the clinic voluntarily and had been discharged at the end of April.

He had also previously come to the attention of the police for non-violent incidents involving insults or disparaging remarks.

The court must now decide on the admissibility of the charges and a possible start date for the trial. The 33-year-old's defence lawyer could not be reached for comment.