At least two people have died, including a young child, after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday evening.
The incident, which left 60 others injured — 15 of them critically — is being treated as a suspected attack, according to local officials.
The tragic event unfolded at around 7 PM at the Christmas market located in Magdeburg’s Old Market Square, near the town hall and the River Elbe.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, where eyewiteported scenes of chaos, with several people lying injured on the ground.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect, who has since been arrested, is a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who has lived in Germany since 2006. Deputy Mayor Regina-Dolores Stieler-Hinz reported the fatalities and described the incident as devastating.
Saxony-Anhalt Governor Reiner Haseloff stated, “As things stand, he is a lone perpetrator. There is no further danger to the city. This is one of the worst things one can imagine, especially during a time when a Christmas market should bring joy.”
Regional government spokesperson Matthias Schuppe and city spokesperson Michael Reif indicated that early investigations point to a deliberate attack. Reif added, “The images are terrible. A car drove into the Christmas market visitors, but we are still determining the exact circumstances.”
Magdeburg’s University Hospital confirmed it was treating 10 to 20 patients and preparing for more casualties. Meanwhile, unverified local reports suggested there may have been an explosive device inside the vehicle, a dark-colored BMW, raising further concerns.
The incident recalls the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack, where an Islamic extremist plowed a truck through the crowd, killing 13 people and injuring dozens. That attacker was later killed in a shootout with police in Italy.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had previously stated that there were no concrete threats to Christmas markets this year but emphasized the need for vigilance during the holiday season.
Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt and home to 240,000 residents, is reeling from the tragedy. Officials continue to investigate the motive and full circumstances behind the incident. Further updates are expected as authorities piece together details of the suspect’s background and potential intent.
This report is copyrighted by M10News.com.
