A driver crashed a car into a large crowd at a Christmas market in central Germany yesterday evening, resulting in at least two fatalities and over 60 injuries before being apprehended, according to authorities.
Among the deceased was a young child, as reported by Reiner Haseloff, premier of Saxony-Anhalt. The incident occurred in Magdeburg, the capital of the state, located 150km west of Berlin.
“This is a catastrophe for the city of Magdeburg, for the state, and for Germany as a whole,” Mr. Haseloff stated, indicating that the death toll might increase due to the serious nature of some injuries.
Mr. Haseloff identified the suspect as a 50-year-old male doctor from Saudi Arabia who held permanent residency in Germany, where he had resided for nearly two decades.
‘This is a catastrophe for the city of Magdeburg, for the state, and for Germany as a whole,’ said Reiner Haseloff, premier of Saxony-Anhalt.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has condemned the attack.
After the incident, police evacuated an area around the vehicle to search for a potential explosive device, according to local broadcaster MDR. They later reported that no such device was discovered.
A police operation was also ongoing in Bernburg, south of Magdeburg, where the suspect is believed to have lived, according to local newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.
Law enforcement officials were not immediately available to comment on the reports of a suspicious item or the operation in Bernburg.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences to those affected in a post on social media platform X and is expected to visit the scene later today alongside Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
As news of the attack spread, Elon Musk, the billionaire allied with US President-elect Donald Trump, criticized Mr. Scholz and called for his resignation.
Following the incident, police cleared an area surrounding the vehicle to investigate a possible explosive device.
A video circulating on social media from an overhead vantage point shows a car speeding through a crowd walking between two rows of market stalls, with individuals being knocked to the ground and fleeing in panic.
Reuters confirmed the location, noting that the trees, outline, and architectural design of the buildings correspond with satellite imagery of the area.
Footage from a local broadcaster depicted people wrapped in blankets on the ground receiving medical care in the aftermath of the attack.
Bild newspaper quoted a witness named Nadine, who recounted walking arm-in-arm with her boyfriend Marco when the car charged toward them.
“He was hit and pulled away from my side,” she told Bild, explaining that he sustained injuries to his leg and head and was taken to the hospital, but she did not know where to locate him.
“The uncertainty is unbearable,” she expressed to Bild.
Late last month, Ms. Faeser urged vigilance at Christmas markets, which have been a specific concern for security services as potential targets for extremist activities.
Eight years ago, Anis Amri, a failed Tunisian asylum seeker with Islamist ties, drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring dozens.
Offers of condolences have poured in.
Taoiseach Simon Harris referred to the incident as “shocking and despicable.”
“Thinking of and praying for the victims and their families and all those involved in responding to the crisis,” Mr. Harris said on X.
Footage from a local broadcaster displayed individuals wrapped in blankets on the ground receiving aid after the attack.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin expressed he is “shocked and appalled” by the loss of life in Magdeburg, urging Irish citizens in the vicinity to heed local authorities’ advice.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, emergency services, and the German people,” he stated.
The United States, in a statement from the State Department, expressed it is “shocked and saddened” by the attack.
“The United States is shocked and saddened by the tragic news from Magdeburg,” stated spokesman Matthew Miller. “We are prepared to offer assistance as recovery efforts proceed and authorities investigate this horrible event.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “profoundly shocked” by the incident, sharing in “the pain of the German people.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed she was “deeply shocked by the brutal attack on the defenseless crowd,” adding: “Violence has no place in our democracies.”
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez conveyed he was “shocked” by the “terrible attack.”
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated he is “horrified” by the assault on the Christmas market.
In a statement, he mentioned, “My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected. We stand with the people of Germany,” he added.
