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A passenger car deliberately plowed into a group of people in Neustadt am Ruebenberge, near Hanover in northern Germany, shortly before midnight on Monday, injuring four to five people, police said Tuesday.
The victims suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe and were taken to hospitals, but none were in life-threatening condition, according to a police spokesperson.
A nearby police patrol conducting a routine traffic check witnessed the incident and intervened to stop the vehicle. Officers fired shots at the car, but the suspect or suspects managed to escape on foot, leaving the vehicle behind.
The car was identified as a BMW, and police launched a large-scale search for those responsible. Officers used a helicopter and a police dog during the operation, but no arrests had been announced as of Tuesday morning.
Initial findings suggest the people involved knew each other, according to police. Investigators believe the group may have been deliberately targeted rather than struck at random.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims or suspects, the nature of their relationships or a possible motive.
The incident occurred on Mecklenhorster Strasse, where officers were carrying out a routine traffic check nearby. The patrol's proximity allowed police to witness the incident and respond immediately.
Police cordoned off the area for several hours to collect evidence and reconstruct the sequence of events. Numerous officers, including heavily armed personnel, took part in the operation.
The exact number of people involved in the incident and the circumstances leading up to the collision remain unclear.
Investigators are continuing to examine the incident as a suspected deliberate vehicle attack, while the search for the person or people responsible remains ongoing.
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