Man Drives Into Crowd at Magdeburg Christmas Market: What We Know So Far
On Friday evening, a devastating attack occurred at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, when a man drove his car into a crowd of shoppers.
Casualties and Injuries
The attack claimed the lives of five people, including a nine-year-old child, and left over 200 injured, many of whom remain in critical condition.
The Suspect
Authorities have arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of carrying out the attack. A judge has ordered his pre-trial detention. Police believe the suspect acted alone.
Timeline of the Attack
- 19:02 local time (18:02 GMT): The first emergency call was made, reporting that a car had driven into a crowd at the market. Initially assumed to be an accident, it soon became clear this was a deliberate act.
- The driver reportedly used traffic lights to turn off the main road onto a pedestrian crossing, gaining access to the market through an emergency vehicle entry point. Along the way, he struck multiple people.
- Unverified social media footage showed the car speeding through the pedestrian walkway between Christmas stalls, causing chaos as shoppers fled or sought cover.
Police Response and Arrest
The driver eventually returned to the road but was forced to stop due to traffic. Officers present at the market quickly apprehended him. Video footage captured armed police confronting and arresting the suspect near a black BMW, which showed severe damage to its front bumper and windscreen.
The entire incident, according to police, lasted just three minutes.
How the Attack Unfolded
At 19:02 local time (18:02 GMT), emergency services received the first report of the incident.
The caller stated that a car had driven into a crowd at a Christmas market in the center of Magdeburg. Initially believed to be an accident, police quickly determined it was a deliberate act.
According to authorities, the driver used traffic lights to veer off the main road onto a pedestrian crossing, entering the market through an access point designated for emergency vehicles. Along the way, he struck multiple people.
Unverified videos shared on social media captured the car speeding through a pedestrian pathway lined with Christmas stalls. Witnesses described scrambling to escape, jumping out of the vehicle’s path, or taking cover to avoid being hit.
The driver eventually exited the market the same way he entered but was forced to stop in traffic. Police officers already on site intervened and arrested the suspect.
Footage from the scene showed armed officers detaining a man lying on the ground near a heavily damaged black BMW, with its front bumper and windscreen visibly wrecked.
Police confirmed the entire attack lasted just three minutes.
Who Are the Victims?
The victims of the attack include a nine-year-old boy and four women, all of whom have been confirmed dead.
Over 200 people were injured in the incident, with at least 41 in critical condition.
Initial reports had indicated two fatalities and 68 injuries, but these figures were updated on Saturday morning to reflect the much higher toll.
While the identities of the victims have not been released, police in Magdeburg stated that the deceased individuals were aged 45, 52, 67, and 75.
Who Is the Suspect?
The suspect in the Magdeburg Christmas market attack has been identified by local media as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old psychiatrist born in Saudi Arabia. He lives in Bernburg, approximately 40km (25 miles) south of Magdeburg.
Al-Abdulmohsen has been placed in custody on suspicion of five counts of murder, multiple attempted murders, and dangerous bodily harm.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, but authorities believe he acted alone.
Al-Abdulmohsen moved to Germany in 2006 and was granted refugee status in 2016.
Germany's Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, commented that it was "clear to see" that the suspect held "Islamophobic" views. Al-Abdulmohsen has been vocal on social media, openly criticizing Islam and promoting conspiracy theories, including one alleging a plot by German authorities to Islamize Europe.
Magdeburg's police chief, Tom-Oliver Langhans, revealed that the police had previously assessed whether the suspect might have posed a potential threat, with such discussions taking place about a year ago.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia are believed to have raised concerns about al-Abdulmohsen's extreme views. According to a source close to the Saudi government, four official warnings—known as "Notes Verbal"—were sent to German authorities.
However, a counter-terrorism expert suggested that the Saudi warnings might have been part of a disinformation campaign to undermine al-Abdulmohsen, who had reportedly assisted young Saudi women seeking asylum in Germany.
Holger Münch, the head of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), confirmed that Saudi Arabia had sent a warning about al-Abdulmohsen in November 2023. Local police took investigative measures, but the information provided was not specific. Münch added that the suspect had interacted with authorities, making insults and threats, but had not been known for violent behavior.
Tributes have been placed at a church near the scene of the attack.What Have Officials Said About the Attack?
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his concern over the attack, stating on social media platform X, "The reports from Magdeburg raise the worst fears."
Magdeburg's city councillor for public order, Ronni Krug, announced that the Christmas market would remain closed, declaring that "Christmas in Magdeburg is over," as reported by German public broadcaster MDR.
This sentiment was reflected on the market's website, which, in the wake of the attack, displayed only a black screen with words of mourning, officially marking the end of the market.
The Saudi government offered its condolences, expressing "solidarity with the German people and the families of the victims" in a statement on X. The government also "affirmed its rejection of violence."
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack, stating he was "horrified by the atrocious attack in Magdeburg." In a post on X, he extended his thoughts to "the victims, their families, and all those affected."
0 Comments