FRANKFURT: At least seven people lost their lives and more than a dozen others were injured when a suspected human smuggler lost control of a van carrying migrants in southern Germany, police said on Friday.
The tragic accident unfolded on the A94 motorway to the east of Munich after the Mercedes Vito van started speeding up amid a police pursuit, police further said.
Approximately 20 migrants, including children, were onboard the van. The fatal rollover claimed the lives of seven passengers, while the remaining occupants suffered varying degrees of injuries, prompting their immediate transportation to nearby hospitals, as stated by the police.
Despite the severity of the accident, the alleged human smuggler driving the van survived and is currently receiving medical attention. The authorities have not disclosed the nationalities of both the suspect and the migrants, promising ongoing updates as the investigation unfolds.
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Germany implemented new border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic. The country has witnessed a substantial increase in first-time asylum requests, with a 78% surge in the first seven months of 2023, according to official data. In August alone, registered illegal border crossings reached 14,701, marking a 66% increase from the same period last year, as reported by police data.
Given the escalating tensions surrounding the migrant influx, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, along with opposition conservatives and regional representatives, is set to convene for an emergency meeting later on Friday to address the pressing issue.
