The death toll from the pedestrians incident in the city of Trier (western Germany) has risen to 4 dead and 15 injured, and the Minister of the Interior of the State of Rheinland Pfalz Roger Lewentz said - at a press conference in the municipality of Trier - that among the dead was a baby.

For his part, Franz Dieter Anckler, deputy director of security in the city, said that the perpetrator, a 51-year-old German, had been arrested, and the car was seized.

In turn, Public Prosecutor Peter Fritzen announced - in a press conference - the start of investigations into the operation, as the perpetrator faces several charges, including 4 murders, the attempted premeditated murder against several people, and several people deliberately injured.

"We have no indications that there are terrorist, political or religious motives behind the trampling incident," Fritzen added, explaining that a doctor recently reached an initial conclusion that the attacker may be suffering from mental illness.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed - in a statement - her deep sorrow over the accident, and offered her condolences to the families of the dead, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.

The German police sealed off areas in the heart of the city of Trier after a car raided several people in a pedestrian zone, and a local police spokesman stated that the background of the accident is still unclear.

Police, ambulance and firefighting cars appeared everywhere in the city center, near the famous city gate, "Porta Negra", and the authorities called on residents to avoid the area of ​​the accident. A press conference is expected to be held shortly afterwards to comment on the incident.