Afghan national jailed for life over car-ramming attack in Germany

A German court has sentenced an Afghan man to life imprisonment for being involved in a car-ramming attack in Munich last year that killed a woman and her two-year-old daughter and injured dozens of others.

The Munich court found the 25-year-old, identified only as Farhad N., guilty of two counts of murder, 23 counts of attempted murder and 22 counts of causing bodily harm, including 19 cases involving serious injuries.

The court also ruled that the crime carried a "particular gravity of guilt," a legal finding that significantly reduces the chances of the convict ever being released from prison.

The attack took place ahead of Germany's general election and was one of several violent incidents involving foreign nationals that intensified political debate over immigration and public security.

It also occurred a day before the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of senior political and defence leaders from around the world.

According to the court, Farhad N. drove his Mini Cooper around a police vehicle before accelerating into a trade union march of around 1,400 people.

A 37-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter were thrown about 10 metres by the impact. Both suffered severe head injuries and died several days later.