Two people, including a child, have been killed and dozens injured after a car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, officials report.
Authorities stated that 68 people were injured, 15 of them seriously.
Reiner Haseloff, premier of Saxony-Anhalt, confirmed at the scene that the suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi citizen, had been living in Germany since 2006 and previously worked as a doctor.
Preliminary investigations suggest the suspect acted alone. Haseloff warned that additional fatalities could not be ruled out due to the severity of the injuries.
Two Dead, Dozens Injured in Car Attack at German Christmas Market
14 minutes ago
By Jake Lapham & Aleks Phillips
BBC News
Two people, including a child, have died, and dozens have been injured after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg, officials say.
Authorities confirmed that 68 people were injured, 15 of them seriously.
Reiner Haseloff, premier of Saxony-Anhalt, revealed that the suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi citizen who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had worked as a doctor, has been arrested. Preliminary investigations suggest the suspect acted alone. Haseloff warned that more fatalities could not be ruled out due to the severity of the injuries.
Eyewitness Accounts and Response
The suspected attacker’s motive remains unclear, with no known ties to Islamist extremism. Social media posts suggest he had previously expressed criticism of Islam.
Footage from the scene shows emergency vehicles attending to the victims, with people lying on the ground. Additional videos depict armed police arresting a man near a stationary vehicle. Unverified clips on social media appear to show the car plowing into the crowd.
City officials reported that around 100 police officers, medics, and firefighters, along with 50 rescue service personnel, responded to the incident.
Statements and Memorial Plans
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences, stating: “My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. We stand with all Magdeburg residents. My thanks to the emergency services in these difficult hours.”
Chancellor Scholz is expected to visit the city on Saturday, and a memorial service for the victims will be held at Magdeburg Cathedral.
Market Closure
At around 19:20 local time (18:20 GMT), Christmas market organizers announced its closure, asking for the public’s understanding. Shortly after, they urged people to avoid the area, writing on social media: “Please let emergency services do their job and leave the market in an orderly manner.”
Officials report that approximately 100 firefighters and 50 rescue workers are responding at the scene.
In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Nadine shared her harrowing experience at the Christmas market with her boyfriend, Marco, when the car came hurtling toward them.
“He was hit and pulled away from my side,” the 32-year-old said. “It was horrifying.”
Lars Frohmüller, a reporter for German public broadcaster MDR, described the aftermath to BBC Radio 4's World Tonight, saying he saw "blood on the floor" and "many doctors working to keep people warm and provide medical assistance."
When the incident occurred, Magdeburg's football team was playing against Fortuna Düsseldorf.
After the game, the team stood united in front of their supporters. In a statement, the club said its "thoughts are with those affected by the terrible events at the Magdeburg Christmas market."
In Munich, a minute's silence was observed at the conclusion of a match between Bayern and RB Leipzig to honor the victims.
This is not the first attack on a Christmas market in Germany. In 2016, Anis Amri, a Tunisian man denied asylum in Germany with links to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, drove a truck into a church market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 49.
Two years later, a gunman opened fire at a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France, killing five and injuring 11. The attacker was shot dead by police two days later.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity, stating that France "shares the pain of the German people and offers its full support" following the Magdeburg attack.
Just last month, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the importance of "greater vigilance" at Christmas markets, noting there were no "concrete" threats at the time. She also highlighted tougher weapons laws in public spaces after a knife attack in Solingen in August that left three people dead, reigniting debates on asylum and migration in Germany.
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