A car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in Germany on Friday evening, killing two people and injuring more than 60 others in what authorities believe might have been a planned attack.
The car reportedly drove around 400 meters through the Christmas market in Magdeburg’s central town square, leaving many injured before the driver was arrested. According to police, the suspect is a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who moved to Germany in 2006, said Tamara Zieschang, the state interior minister.
Two lives lost in the tragedy include an adult and a toddler, confirmed Reiner Haseloff, the governor of Saxony-Anhalt. “From what we know, the attacker acted alone, and there is no further danger to the city,” he stated.
Incident Details at Magdeburg Christmas Market
Eyewitness videos shared by local media showed people trying to help injured individuals at the busy market. Officials, including city spokesperson Michael Reif, suspect the act was deliberate. Reif mentioned that there were numerous injuries, though deputy mayor Regina-Dolores Stieler-Hinz estimated the number of wounded to be over 60.
Magdeburg’s University Hospital reported treating between 10 to 20 injured individuals while preparing to receive more victims. The scene, with sirens blaring and emergency personnel responding, sharply contrasted with the holiday lights and decorations of the market.
“This is a tragic and heartbreaking incident, especially so close to Christmas,” added Governor Haseloff. He confirmed that 15 of the injured are in critical condition.
Official Reactions to the Tragedy
Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences, writing on social media: “My thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand with the people of Magdeburg.” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also shared his grief, stating the tragedy disrupted the peaceful anticipation of Christmas.
French President Emmanuel Macron extended solidarity, calling the incident shocking and painful for Germany. However, Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, criticized the situation, questioning when such incidents would end.
Context and Historical Parallels
The attack comes eight years after the 2016 Berlin Christmas market tragedy, where a terrorist drove a truck through a crowd, killing 13 people and injuring many others. The Berlin attacker was later shot dead in Italy.
Although German authorities stated there were no specific threats to Christmas markets this year, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently urged people to stay cautious.
Magdeburg, located 130 kilometers southwest of Berlin, is home to 240,000 residents and is the capital of Saxony-Anhalt. The tragic incident has left the community grieving during what should have been a festive season.
