Magdeburg market attack latest: Child among two dead with up to 80 injured after car ploughs into crowd in Germany
At least two people were killed and 15 are seriously injured, according to government officials
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A car ploughed into a busy outdoor Christmas market in eastern Germany, killing two people and injuring at least 68 others in what authorities suspect was an attack.
The car drove into Magdeburg Christmas market at around 7pm, when it was busy with holiday shoppers looking forward to the weekend.
At least two people were killed, including a toddler, and 68 were injured, including 15 who were hurt very seriously, according to government officials. It said 37 people had injuries of medium severity and 16 were lightly injured.
Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff said he couldn’t rule out further deaths because so many people were seriously injured. It was earlier reported that the death toll was 11 by German newspaper Bild.
The suspected driver of the car was arrested at the scene and has been named by local media as Taleb. A, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who first came to Germany in 2006.
Pictures showed the vehicle severely damaged following the attack.
Regional government spokesperson Matthias Schuppe and city spokesperson Michael Reif said they suspected it was an attack.
Magdeburg, which is west of Berlin, is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt and has about 240,000 inhabitants.
Police: No information yet on background to Christmas market deaths
A police spokeswoman said the force are not yet able to provide any information about the motive for the crime.
“We do not yet know the background to the crime, we are taking everything into consideration,” said a police spokeswoman when asked by reporters.
Saudi Arabia deplores market deaths
Saudi Arabia condemned the ramming attack at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday evening, the Gulf country’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Police have arrested a suspect in the attack, which killed at least two people.
A German official described the suspect as a doctor from Saudi Arabia who was acting alone.
Saudi Arabia’s statement made no mention of the suspect.
Bild reporting no explosives found in car
No explosive device was found in the car after media speculation.
Tracy Hering of Magdeburg police said a large cordon was set up because of a suspicious piece of luggage on the passenger seat.
‘Clarification needed’ Left leader says after crash
Left Party leader Ines Schwerdtner expressed her shock at the images following the attack in Magdeburg.
“My deepest sympathy goes out to the victims and their families,” Schwerdtner wrote on X.
“Thank you to the many helpers who gave their all on this difficult night. Our thoughts are with those affected. What is needed now is clarification instead of debates at the expense of the victims.”
Italian leader deeply shocked by ‘brutality'
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she was “deeply shocked” by the “brutal” attack in a post on X.
“I am deeply shocked by the brutal attack on the defenceless crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. I stand with the entire government, the families of the victims, the injured and all the German people.
“Violence must have no place in our democracies.”
Distressed rescue workers hug at the scene of Christmas market horror
‘NATO stands with Germany'
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has reached out to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to offer his condolences.
He posted on X: “Horrific scenes from a Christmas market in #Magdeburg. I have reached out to @Bundeskanzler to offer my condolences.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families. #NATO stands with #Germany.”
‘Security failed’ Terror expert warns
Terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler told broadcaster ZDF: “First of all, it is surprising that a vehicle of any size can still drive into a German Christmas market in a big city.
“The fact that an attack with a car was successful indicates a flaw in the security concept.”
Thursday was the eighth anniversary of the terrible Christmas market attack on Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz which killed 12.
Chancellor Scholz to visit site on Saturday
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit Magdeburg on Saturday.
“The Chancellor will come here tomorrow and assess the situation with us and will certainly not only mourn with us but also discuss the necessary measures,” said Reiner Haseloff, the regional prime minister.
“And I can imagine that due to the seriousness of this attack, the Federal Prosecutor General will also take action,” he added.
British Foreign Office ‘closely monitoring the situation'
The Foreign Office said it is “closely monitoring the situation” in Germany.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “We are in contact with the German authorities following an incident in the city of Magdeburg and are closely monitoring the situation.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected.”