A car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, has left at least 11 people dead and 60 to 80 injured, according to local reports. The driver, identified as a 49-year-old man of Saudi origin, has been arrested, and police are investigating the presence of a suspected explosive device found in the vehicle.
The attack occurred as the market was bustling with visitors ahead of Christmas. Eyewitness accounts and local authorities describe the vehicle speeding into the crowd, causing widespread chaos and injuries. Police have cordoned off the area and closed the market as emergency responders work to assist the victims.
A car rammed into a crowd at Magdeburg's Christmas market, injuring over 20 people, according to BILD.
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The driver is in custody, and police are searching the area for explosives. The market remains closed.#Magdeburg #Germany pic.twitter.com/uS160jK15E
Initial investigations indicate the suspect rented the vehicle shortly before the incident. A piece of luggage, suspected to contain explosives, was reportedly found on the passenger seat, leading to heightened security measures. Authorities are treating the incident as a deliberate attack, though the exact motive remains unclear.
Magdeburg city spokesperson Michael Reif described the scene as “terrible” and confirmed “numerous injured” individuals. “My information is that a car drove into the Christmas market visitors,” he said, adding that the incident is being investigated as a deliberate act.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences, stating that the “news suggests something bad,” and offered his thoughts to the victims and their families. Reiner Haseloff, the state premier, called the attack a “terrible event, especially now in the days before Christmas,” and is en route to the scene.
Hospitals in the nearby city of Halle have been placed on high alert to handle the influx of casualties, with authorities preparing for a mass casualty event. The Weihnachtsmarkt Magdeburg social media account has urged the public to leave the market area and allow emergency services to conduct their operations.
The Magdeburg Christmas market remains closed, and investigations are ongoing. The incident has sparked widespread shock, with many questioning security measures at public events.
