A horrifying incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, has left five people dead, including a child, and more than 200 injured after a car plowed into a crowded area. The tragedy occurred on Friday evening, and officials fear the death toll could rise due to the severity of injuries.
Reiner Haseloff, the premier of Saxony-Anhalt, confirmed that 41 individuals remain in critical condition. Speaking to reporters, he revealed that the suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi national who arrived in Germany in 2006 and previously worked as a doctor, has been arrested.
Preliminary investigations suggest the attacker acted alone, but authorities have not yet identified a motive. Officials stated the suspect has no known connections to Islamist extremism, though online posts attributed to him suggest he was critical of Islam.
Shocking footage from the scene shows emergency responders attending to victims lying on the ground, while heavily armed police detained the suspect near a stationary vehicle. Unverified videos circulating online appear to capture the car barreling through the market’s festive crowds.
Over 100 police officers, medics, firefighters, and 50 rescue personnel were deployed to handle the chaotic aftermath. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the city on Saturday, calling the incident a “dreadful tragedy” and expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life and injuries inflicted in a place meant to spread joy during the holiday season.
