Magdeburg, Germany: At least two people are dead and 68 others injured after a car crashed into a busy Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday, December 20th evening. The attack, described as intentional, occurred in the central square of the Saxony-Anhalt state capital.
The driver, identified as a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian doctor, was arrested at the scene. He had been living in Germany since 2006 and was previously unknown to security services. Local officials believe the suspect acted alone, and no further danger to the public is anticipated.
Among the injured, 15 are in critical condition, 37 sustained medium injuries, and 16 were lightly injured. The attack happened around 7 PM local time, when the market was especially crowded due to the festive atmosphere before Christmas. The car reportedly sped through the area, striking the crowd.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his sorrow, stating, “My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” and thanked the rescue workers. He also confirmed plans to visit the scene on Saturday.
The US state department spokesman Matthew Miller said that, The country is “horrified by the attack” in Magdeburg,
Saxony-Anhalt Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang confirmed the driver’s identity, noting that he had arrived in Germany in 2006 but had no known security concerns. Premier Reiner Haseloff confirmed that one of the deceased was a child and the other an adult, but could not confirm if there would be more casualties.
The attack occurred at a traditional Christmas market, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy regional food and drinks. Haseloff called it “one of the worst things one can imagine” given the festive setting.
Al Jazeera’s Dominic Kane, who was headed to the scene, explained that the market was particularly busy on the last Friday before Christmas. The suspect’s use of a rental car provides investigators with valuable leads on his actions prior to the incident.
This attack recalls the 2016 Berlin Christmas market car-ramming incident, where a similar tragedy unfolded. Authorities are now investigating the details of the rental car to determine how the suspect planned the attack.
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