Burkhard Jung on deadly Leipzig rampage: 'It caught me cold, you can't be prepared'

The attack

On May 4, a 33-year-old man drove a car into a central shopping street in Leipzig, striking multiple pedestrians in broad daylight. The rampage killed a 63-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man. Six others were injured, some critically.

Victims and community impact

In the immediate aftermath, more than 80 people, including eyewitnesses, relatives, and bystanders, received psychological counselling, police said. The attack paralyzed the city center and prompted an outpouring of grief from residents and officials across Germany.

Perpetrator and investigation

The driver was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody. A court ordered his placement in a psychiatric hospital pending a full evaluation. The public prosecutor's office is investigating him on charges of murder and attempted murder. A motive has not been publicly released.

Mayor Jung: "It caught me cold"

Burkhard Jung, Leipzig's long-serving mayor, reflected on the ordeal weeks later.

It caught me cold. One cannot be prepared for something like that.

He noted that emergency protocols were followed, but the human toll on first responders and city leaders is harder to manage.

You can make sure the crisis team works and the fire department is well set up. But you are not prepared for what the situation does to you.

Jung also pushed back against calls to turn city centers into fortresses.

If you fortify the city center against rampage drivers, then something like this can happen at a bus stop, an outdoor café, or a busy street.

As head of the German Association of Cities, Jung has often weighed in on urban safety and resilience.

End of an era

The 68-year-old SPD politician has announced he will not run for re-election next year, capping a 21-year tenure that began in 2005. He said the rampage was one of the darkest chapters of his time in office. Jung's departure comes as Leipzig continues to recover from the shock.