UPDATE 3 - Germany: Van plows into crowd causing several deaths

ADDS TURKISH PM'S CONDOLENCES

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - At least three people died after a van drove into a crowd in the western German city of Munster, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Saturday.

A spokesman from the ministry told German press agency DPA that three people sitting outside a restaurant were killed in the incident, and the suspect was found dead in the car.

German weekly Der Spiegel reported on its website that the suspected attacker was a German citizen Jens R. who suffered from psychological problems.

Police searched the house of the suspect for explosives, the weekly reported.

Munster’s Mayor Markus Lewe told reporters that the police was still investigating the background of the crash.

“For the time being, we still do not know the motive,” he said.

Nearly 30 people were injured in the incident in the town’s historic center.

Six of them suffered severe injuries, and several of them were in critical condition, the local media reported.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim offered his condolence following the deadly attack, according to the premier's office.

Yildirim, who is on an official visit to Mongolia, sent a condolence message to German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the incident.

*Mumin Altas from Mongolia contributed to the story