Foreign Office Germany travel advice after Mannheim car incident

German police have confirmed that one person has been killed

A car drove into crowds in the Western German city of Mannheim(Image: Anadolu/Getty Images)

The Foreign Office has issued a new travel update for UK tourists currently in Germany and those planning to travel to the European country. The travel warning comes after reports one person has died and several people have been “seriously injured” after a car drove into crowds in the Western German city of Mannheim, earlier today.

An alert was issued on the Katwarn smartphone app, which is used in major emergencies, telling people in Mannheim to avoid the city centre due to a big police deployment. German police described it as a “life-threatening deployment situation” and wrote in a statement: “Currently, a police operation is taking place in the city center of Mannheim, in the area of Wasserturm/Plankenkopf.”

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed. They stated: “We are aware that a car was driven into a crowd today (3 March) in Mannheim. If you’re in the immediate area you should follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media.”

German police have confirmed that one person was killed, with several others injured. A statement says a suspect was arrested during a search. According to a statement to German news agency DPA, the Mannheim University Hospital has activated its “disaster response” plan.

The official X account for the city of Mannheim has posted an update saying a large-scale police operation is under way in the city centre. The post reiterates that people should stay away from the area, and follow the instructions of emergency services.

Images from the scene showed parts of the central area were cordoned off, with a heavy police presence and helicopters hovering above. Police gathered around a badly damaged black car as ambulances lined up outside the cordon.

Further advise issued by the Foreign Office to protect yourself and your belongings is to take sensible precautions to avoid mugging, bag-snatching and pickpocketing. Be particularly vigilant at airports, railway stations and in crowded public places or gatherings. Do not leave bags unattended.