A vehicle assault on a trade union protest in Munich on Thursday has heightened the political discourse surrounding migration in Germany in anticipation of the elections on February twenty-third.

The event, in which a twenty-four-year-old Afghan asylum seeker injured at least twenty-eight individuals, some critically, is under investigation by Bavaria’s counterterrorism unit.

The suspect, who was already known to law enforcement, was apprehended at the scene.

Friedrich Merz, the likely next chancellor from the Christian Democratic Union, declared on social media that law and order must be upheld and insisted that 'something has to change.' Bavarian Premier Markus Söder, representing the Christian Social Union, characterized the attack as a probable act of terrorism and called for stricter measures.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, addressing a campaign gathering, emphasized the necessity of punishing and deporting dangerous asylum seekers, while Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens expressed his dismay and called for caution until a comprehensive investigation is completed.

This incident follows similar occurrences in January in Aschaffenburg and December in Magdeburg, fueling ongoing discussions about Germany’s migration policies.

Moreover, the attack arrives just days before the Munich Security Conference, leading to a reassessment of security protocols for the event.