The injured are all German nationals aged between 19 and 29. Four people have been seriously injured while two victims suffered less serious injuries, according to Rainer Brenner, the police spokesperson for Cuxhaven. All six remain hospitalised.
The police spokesman says the incident happened in the early hours of Sunday. The driver is of Syrian origin but is being described by local media as a “Cuxhaven resident”.
The driver tried to flee on foot, but was held down by witnesses until police arrived. His motive remains unclear, even though law enforcement believe the incident was deliberate.
Police in Cuxhaven issued a statement in which they ruled out a terrorist motive. “The investigation shows that a dispute in or outside a Cuxhaven nightclub could be the reason for the incident,” the statement said, citing witnesses.
“A political motive can be ruled out at this time.”
After ramming into pedestrians, the driver then crashed into a bollard some 300 metres away and was held down by passers-by until officers arrived, according to media reports.
The local Oldenburg police force tweeted that the driver “probably comes from Syria”.
A similar incident happened at the Berlin Christmas market last December, when a failed Tunisian asylum seeker rammed a truck into a crowd of shoppers, killing 12 innocent people. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Berlin Christmas market for 2017 is getting ready to open with tard-guards or “Merkel blocks”, some of them cynically gift wrapped.
Weihnachtsmarkt: Hier werden Terrorsperren liebevoll in Geschenkpapier eingewickelt https://t.co/rmZNRD7lv5 pic.twitter.com/cVwQ7kmS2V
— WELT (@welt) November 24, 2017
Anti-terror barriers in Germany “lovingly wrapped” for Christmas.
Social unrest and insecurity – Mutti Merkel's gift to all of Europe! 🤶🏻🎄🎁 https://t.co/envZ8YXsZr
— Jack Montgomery ن (@JackBMontgomery) November 24, 2017
Also this year, flowers were displayed and candles were lit at the site where the terrorist had smashed into the revellers in 2016.