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Vehicles as weapons -

Vehicle-ramming attacks such as these involve deliberately driving a car, truck, or other vehicle into a crowd of people with the intent to kill or injure. These attacks exploit the everyday accessibility of vehicles to turn them into deadly weapons with devastating consequences.

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Low-tech terrorism -

Unlike bombings or mass shootings, vehicle-ramming attacks require no specialized weapons or technical knowledge. This makes them a favored tactic for extremists who lack access to firearms or explosives but still seek to cause mass casualties and widespread fear.

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The rise of lone-wolf terrorism -

Many vehicle-ramming attacks are carried out by lone individuals, often radicalized online or driven by personal grievances. Without the need for complex planning or coordination, these attackers can strike unpredictably, which makes them particularly challenging to detect before they act.

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The influence of extremist ideologies -

From jihadist groups like ISIS to far-right extremists and incel movements, radical ideologies have played a significant role in motivating vehicle-ramming attacks. These attackers see mass casualties as a means of advancing their twisted beliefs, although many other attacks can be attributed to non-terrorist acts. Let’s take a look at some of the worst ones.

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Carnival tragedy in Germany -

On March 3, two people died and 11 were injured after a car drove into a crowd of people celebrating the carnival season in the western German city of Mannheim.

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Carnival tragedy in Germany -

The car drove at high speed into the crowd, traveling from Paradeplatz Square towards the city's landmark water tower. The driver was detained following the incident, although the motive is not yet clear.

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Deadly New Year's Eve in New Orleans -

On January 1, 15 people were killed and 30 others injured after a truck drove into a crowd in New Orleans’ tourist district. The truck, displaying an Islamic State flag, plowed through Bourbon Street before the driver opened fire on police.

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Deadly New Year's Eve in New Orleans -

Officers returned fire, fatally shooting him. According to the FBI, the attacker was identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a US citizen from Texas.

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Extremism in Munich -

On February 13, 2025, a 24-year-old attacker drove a Mini Cooper into a crowd in Munich, Germany. The attack happened during a trade union demonstration near the city’s central train station.

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Extremism in Munich -

Authorities quickly identified an Islamist motive behind the attack, though no direct links to terrorist organizations were found. The attacker later confessed to deliberately targeting the demonstrators, and the incident has fueled various political debates on immigration and public safety.

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Christmas market massacre -

On December 19, 2016, Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz Christmas market was alive with holiday cheer when a stolen truck suddenly barreled through the crowd. In a matter of seconds, the joyous atmosphere was replaced by chaos, screams, and devastation as the vehicle crushed everything in its path.

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Christmas market massacre -

The attacker, an ISIS-inspired extremist, had hijacked the truck after killing its original driver, then used it as a weapon to kill 12 people and injure dozens more. The suspect fled the scene, sparking an international manhunt that ended days later when he was shot dead by police in Italy.

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The Westminster rampage -

The heart of London became a scene of terror on March 22, 2017, as a lone attacker drove a vehicle onto Westminster Bridge and rammed into pedestrians in a horrifying act of violence. In just 82 seconds, he killed five people and injured over 50 before crashing his car near Parliament.

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The Westminster rampage -

After the crash, the attacker abandoned his vehicle and ran toward the gates of Parliament, where he fatally stabbed an unarmed police officer. Moments later, armed officers shot him dead, ending the rampage. The attack was later linked to jihadist extremism.

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Deadly Spanish attack -

Barcelona's vibrant La Rambla street became a scene of bloodshed on August 17, 2017, as a van zigzagged down the bustling boulevard, striking unsuspecting tourists and locals alike. The 22-year-old attacker killed 15 people and injured over 130, turning one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations into a place of horror and grief.

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Deadly Spanish attack -

The attack was part of a larger jihadist plot, initially intended to involve bombings across Barcelona. Hours later, five more attackers attempted another ramming and stabbing spree in the Spanish town of Cambrils before being shot dead by police.

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Sidewalk slaughter -

On April 23, 2018, a rented van became a weapon of mass violence in Toronto, Canada, as the driver deliberately mounted a busy sidewalk and struck pedestrians along a nearly one-mile (1.6-km) stretch. The calculated attack left 10 people dead and 16 others injured.

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Sidewalk slaughter -

The attacker, later arrested without incident, claimed allegiance to the misogynistic incel (involuntary celibate) movement, which harbors resentment toward women. He saw the attack as revenge for perceived romantic rejection.

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Halloween horror -

A crisp autumn afternoon on October 31, 2017, turned deadly when a rented pickup truck sped down a crowded bike path in New York City, striking cyclists and pedestrians. Eight people were killed, and a dozen more were injured before the attacker crashed into a school bus and was apprehended by police.

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Halloween horror -

The attacker, later found to have pledged allegiance to ISIS, had meticulously planned the attack, even leaving a note declaring his extremist motivations. The incident remains the deadliest terrorist attack in New York City since 9/11.

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Bastille Day horror -

On July 14, 2016, thousands of people gathered on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, France, to watch Bastille Day fireworks. The joyous atmosphere quickly turned to horror when a 19-ton truck, driven by a terrorist, suddenly accelerated into the crowd, mowing down men, women, and children.

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Bastille Day horror -

The attack claimed 86 lives and injured over 400 people, making it one of the most devastating vehicle-ramming incidents ever recorded. The driver, who was ultimately shot and killed by police, had pledged allegiance to ISIS, which highlighted the growing threat of low-tech, high-impact terrorism in Western cities.

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Swedish day of terror -

On April 7, 2017, a hijacked beer delivery truck was driven at high speed down a crowded pedestrian street in central Stockholm. The attacker plowed through shoppers before crashing into a department store, killing five people and injuring over a dozen others.

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Swedish day of terror -

The perpetrator, an Uzbek national who had been denied asylum in Sweden, later admitted to carrying out the attack in support of ISIS. Authorities found explosives in the truck, which suggests he intended an even deadlier assault.

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The mosque attack -

On June 19, 2017, a van deliberately plowed into a group of Muslim worshippers outside Finsbury Park Mosque in London, striking people who had just finished evening prayers during Ramadan. The attack killed one man and injured 10 other individuals.

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The mosque attack -

The attacker, motivated by anti-Muslim hatred, saw the attack as revenge for Islamist terrorist incidents in the UK. He later admitted he wanted to kill as many Muslims as possible. Although the incident resulted in minimal casualties, it gained international attention, as it was a stark reminder that terror has no singular ideology.

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The Münster cafe attack -

On April 7, 2018, a van plowed into an outdoor café in the German city of Münster, killing three people and injuring over 20 others. The attack occurred in a popular pedestrian area, turning a peaceful weekend gathering into a scene of panic and destruction.

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The Münster cafe attack -

Unlike many vehicle-ramming incidents, this attack was not linked to terrorism. The perpetrator, a 48-year-old German man with a history of mental illness, acted alone before taking his own life inside the vehicle. The incident reignited debates about mental health and its role in violent acts.

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Construction vehicle carnage -

On July 2, 2008, chaos erupted in Jerusalem when a construction worker used a bulldozer to carry out a deadly vehicle-ramming attack. The attacker drove the heavy machinery onto Jaffa Road, crushing cars, flipping buses, and striking pedestrians before being shot and killed.

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Construction vehicle carnage -

The rampage caused severe damage to other vehicles that resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to more than 30 others. The attack, later classified as an act of terrorism, was followed soon after by three other copycat attacks by different residents of East Jerusalem.

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Christmas parade tragedy -

On November 21, 2021, the annual Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, was shattered when an SUV plowed through performers and spectators. The attack left six people dead, including an eight-year-old child, and over 60 injured.

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Christmas parade tragedy -

The driver was fleeing a domestic disturbance when he intentionally drove into the parade route. Though not a terrorist attack, his actions were deliberate and deadly. He was later convicted of multiple counts of first-degree intentional homicide and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

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Australian massacre -

On January 20, 2017, Melbourne’s bustling Bourke Street turned into a scene of horror when a man deliberately drove his car into pedestrians. The attack, carried out in broad daylight, left six people dead and injured over 30.

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Australian massacre -

Authorities ruled out terrorism after the attack. The driver, a man with a history of violent behavior and mental instability, had been fleeing police after a domestic dispute. His reckless and deliberate actions led to one of the deadliest attacks in Australia’s modern history.

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Anti-ramming roadblocks -

In order to counteract vehicle-ramming attacks, many cities install barriers (whether temporary or permanent) that can prevent unauthorized vehicles from gaining access to areas where pedestrians typically travel. These have proven effective in preventing attacks in cities like London and New York.

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Evolving security measures -

Major events like marathons, parades, and concerts now implement stricter vehicle control policies. Checkpoints, road closures, and physical barriers have become common features to prevent vehicles from reaching large crowds. Despite numerous security improvements, the threat of vehicle-ramming attacks persists around the world.

Sources: (The New York Times) (Britannica) (BBC) (CNN) (CISA) (National Institutes of Health)

See also: Massacres that changed the world

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