At least two people were killed and dozens injured when a car crashed into a busy Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday. Authorities said it appeared to be a deliberate attack.
Magdeburg police confirmed that the driver of the car was arrested at the scene. They said they believe he was a “lone offender” at this time.
Rainer Haseloff, Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, described it as an “isolated attack”. He told a news conference at the scene in Magdeburg that the suspect was a 50-year-old doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and said he had permission to stay and work in the country indefinitely.
Authorities say the driver has no criminal history and the motive is unknown. The area around the vehicle was cordoned off by investigators.
Hazerov said the two people confirmed dead were an adult and a child. He said at least 60 people were injured and the possibility of more deaths could not be ruled out. Saxony-Anhalt Interior Minister Tamara Zieshan said the number of injured was 68, 15 of them seriously.
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“It was a really chaotic situation,” Lars Frohmüller, a reporter for German public broadcaster MDR, told CBS News partner the BBC.
“We saw blood on the floor, we saw people sitting next to each other… and we saw many doctors trying to keep people warm and treat their injuries. ” he said.
“There were ambulances everywhere, police everywhere, lots of firefighters.”
Immediately after the crash, Magdeburg University Hospital said it was treating 10 to 20 patients and was preparing to treat more, dpa news agency reported.
The sound of sirens from first responders clashed with the market’s holiday decorations, including ornaments, stars and leaf garlands adorning vendor booths. Footage from the scene, where part of the market was sealed off, showed debris on the ground.
“This is a terrible event, especially now before Christmas,” Haseloff said.
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Prime Minister Oiaf Scholz wrote on X: “My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives. We stand with them and the people of Magdeburg.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed her condolences, writing: “This act of violence must be investigated and severely punished.”
After the incident, the New York City Police Department said it deployed personnel to various Christmas markets and other locations around the city “out of an abundance of caution,” but that no specific or credible threat had been identified.
Magdeburg, west of Berlin, is the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt and has a population of approximately 240,000.
The alleged attack occurred eight years after the Berlin Christmas market attack. December 19, 2016, Islamic extremists A truck drove through the crowded Christmas13 people were killed and dozens more were injured. The attacker was killed days later in a gunfight in Italy.
Christmas markets are a big part of German culture, an annual holiday tradition cherished since the Middle Ages and exported to many Western countries. More than 100 markets opened in Berlin alone late last month, bringing the aromas of mulled wine, roasted almonds and bratwurst to the capital. There are many other markets around the country as well.
German Interior Minister Nancy Feser said late last month that although there were no concrete signs that this year’s Christmas markets were in danger, it was prudent to be cautious. She wrote on social media on Friday: “The news from Magdeburg is extremely shocking. Emergency services are doing everything they can to care for the injured and save lives. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.” said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for the latest information.
