Afghan Bodybuilder Admits to Deliberate Act, Injuring 36 in Suspected Islamist Attack

Afghan Bodybuilder Admits to Deliberate Act

An Afghan bodybuilder with a significant online following has admitted to deliberately driving into a crowd in Munich, according to prosecutors. The incident, believed to be an Islamist extremist attack, injured at least 36 people, two of whom remain in critical condition.

The suspect, identified as Farhad Noori, was arrested shortly after the attack. The 24-year-old asylum-seeker arrived in Germany from Afghanistan in 2016 and had his asylum application rejected. Despite this, he was allowed to remain in the country due to security concerns in Afghanistan.

Noori, a resident of Munich with a valid residence permit, was known for his bodybuilding career and had competed in the German amateur championship. However, his social media accounts, which boasted tens of thousands of followers before being taken down, also revealed extremist leanings.

Prosecutors believe the attack was motivated by religious extremism, citing Noori's confession and his previous online posts advocating for the eradication of those who oppose Islam. The Bavarian Central Office for Combating Extremism and Terrorism is currently leading the investigation.

While the victims, members of the Verdi trade union, are not believed to have been specifically targeted, authorities are investigating whether anyone else was involved in the attack.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned the attack and called for the perpetrator's expulsion from the country. Police continue to investigate the incident and Noori's background to establish a definitive motive.