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Increasing Incidents of Vehicle Attacks: A Global Perspective

(Reuters) – The landscape of mass attacks shifted notably in 2016 in Nice, France, when a driver used a heavy truck to strike a crowd gathered for Bastille Day celebrations. This incident marked a troubling trend, leading to a rise in vehicle-based assaults around the globe, with some classified as acts of terrorism. The recent New Year’s Day event in New Orleans, where a pickup truck was driven into a gathering of celebrants, has become the latest example.

During the early hours of New Year’s Day, a driver in New Orleans’ vibrant French Quarter forced his vehicle into a crowd, subsequently opening fire, resulting in the death of 10 individuals and injuring over 35 others. The FBI is investigating this tragic incident as a possible act of terrorism.

The threat of vehicle attacks is increasingly recognized, prompting the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency to label them as “a significant threat” within the nation. Their response includes the development of a “Vehicle Incident Prevention and Mitigation Security Guide” aimed at addressing this growing concern.

Here’s a list of notable recent vehicle attacks from across the globe, presented in reverse chronological order.

Magdeburg, Germany

In December 2023, a 50-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder after he drove his car into crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing five individuals and injuring many others. The suspect, a psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia who has lived in Germany for nearly two decades, was reportedly motivated by anti-Islamic sentiments.

Zhuhai, China

November 2023 saw a devastating incident in Zhuhai, China, where a 62-year-old man drove his vehicle into a crowd at a sports center, killing 35 people and injuring 43. The driver, who was identified as Fan, reportedly turned to self-harm subsequent to the attack, which stemmed from personal distress related to a divorce settlement.

Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA

In a widely publicized case in November 2021, a man named Darrell Brooks was convicted for driving his SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, resulting in six fatalities and many injuries. The incident was characterized by law enforcement as a deliberate act to inflict harm upon the parade attendees.

London, Ontario, Canada

June 2021 witnessed another tragic vehicle attack in London, Ontario, where Nathaniel Veltman, a self-identified white nationalist, used his pickup truck to deliberately run over a Muslim family, killing four members. In 2023, Veltman faced conviction for first-degree murder, with the judge labeling the act as terrorism.

Toronto, Canada

An incident in 2018 involved a man who drove a rented van into pedestrians in downtown Toronto, which resulted in 11 deaths and 15 injuries. The attacker, Alek Minassian, was found guilty of multiple counts of murder in 2021.

New York City, USA

In 2017, an Uzbek national, Sayfullo Saipov, committed a horrific attack by driving a rented truck onto a Manhattan bike path, killing eight people and injuring numerous others. He was later convicted of murder, having expressed intentions related to extremist ideology.

Barcelona, Spain

August 2017 marked a grim attack when a man drove into crowds in Barcelona, killing 13 individuals. He escaped on foot after the attack but was later killed by police.

Times Square, New York City, USA

In May 2017, Richard Rojas, a former U.S. Navy veteran, drove into pedestrians in Times Square, resulting in one death and 22 injuries. A jury ultimately accepted his insanity defense in 2022.

Westminster, London, UK

A March 2017 rampage saw Khalid Masood driving through Westminster Bridge, killing four people and injuring many others before he fatally stabbed a police officer.

Berlin, Germany

The December 2016 attack occurred when Anis Amri hijacked a truck and drove it into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, resulting in 12 deaths and scores of injuries before he was killed in a confrontation with police.

Nice, France

Returning to the infamous 2016 attack in Nice, a gunman drove a truck into a Bastille Day crowd, claiming the lives of 86 individuals and injuring many more in what was described as an act inspired by Islamic State. The attacker was identified as a French-Tunisian national.

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