- Taxi driver allegedly hit people in Cologne
A taxi driver is suspected of intentionally driving into pedestrians in Cologne, injuring a total of five women and one man. The 44-year-old from Velbert allegedly drove his car at high speed towards women in the Cologne Old Town, injuring two severely and two lightly, according to police and prosecutors. Earlier, the taxi is said to have seriously injured a 50-year-old woman in Essen.
A waiter from a nearby brewery witnessed the scene and gave chase on foot. The taxi driver then reportedly turned towards him and struck the 34-year-old with the side mirror despite his attempt to jump out of the way, causing minor injuries. However, the pursuer managed to overpower the man and hold him until the police arrived.
Investigators initially ruled out the possibility of an act of amok and an attempted murder. The legal classification is still ongoing. The taxi driver is believed to be mentally ill, according to a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office. It is also suspected that he was under the influence of cocaine and cannabis at the time. He has been committed to a psychiatric hospital.
On Monday evening around 10:00 PM, the suspect initially hit two women (22, 23) head-on, then drove the taxi towards three more women and hit two of them. Just an hour earlier, the same taxi had hit a 50-year-old pedestrian while turning right in Essen. Investigations are underway to determine if it was the same driver.
The investigation into the taxi incident involves the cooperation of various authorities, including the police and the Office of the Prosecutor. According to the spokesperson from the Prosecutor's Office, the taxi driver is believed to be mentally ill and was under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.
