Attack on German Christmas market injures at least 50 people; one killed

Car slams into people at Christmas market in Germany

A car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German town of Magdeburg, broadcaster MDR and other local media said on Friday, citing a local government official. At least one person was killed and several were injured, MDR’s report said, citing local police. The report said the suspected driver of the car had been arrested. A video published by newspaper Bild showed people trying to help what appeared to be multiple injured victims at a crowded Christmas market.

A car that drove through a crowded outdoor Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, Friday night killed at least one person and injured at least 50 more, authorities said. 

Multiple reports say at least one person was killed and numerous people were hurt when the suspect deliberately plowed through the festive vendor booths. Officials are calling it a suspected attack.

Who is the suspect? 

The driver of the car was arrested. He not known to German authorities as an Islamic extremist, dpa reported, citing unidentified security officials. 

He is believed to be about 50 years old and to have come from Saudi Arabia.

Suspected attack

“The pictures are terrible,” city spokesperson Michael Reif said. “My information is that a car drove into the Christmas market visitors, but I can’t yet say from what direction and how far.”

Magdeburg’s University Hospital said it was taking care of 10 to 20 patients but was preparing for more, dpa reported.

Magdeburg, west of Berlin, is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt and has about 240,000 residents.

The suspected attack came eight years after an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. On Dec. 19, 2016, an Islamic extremist plowed through a crowded Christmas with a truck, killing 13 people and injuring dozens more. The attacker was killed days later in a shootout in Italy.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said late last month that there were no concrete indications of a danger to Christmas markets this year, but that it was wise to be vigilant.