Authorities at the scene of the incident
A car crashed into a crowd at a Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg (Saxony-Anhalt state, Germany), killing at least 2 people and injuring 60, according to Reuters.
The incident happened on the evening of December 20 (local time) and one of the two people killed was a child, according to Saxony-Anhalt Premier Reiner Haseloff.
Police arrested the suspect, who Mr. Haseloff described as a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia who acted alone. According to the official, this suspect has a permanent residence card in Germany and has lived in this country for nearly 20 years.
“This is a terrible tragedy. This is a disaster for the city of Magdeburg, for the state and for Germany in general,” Mr. Haseloff said.
Page Sky News witness Liam Clowes (29 years old) said he heard many people screaming when the car drove into the Christmas market at high speed.
“I turned around and initially thought the noise was from the children’s Ferris wheel right behind. Suddenly, a car came from our right, straight past. The car was traveling at at least 40 -65 km/h and threw everyone away. We knew it was a serious incident,” he said.
This witness said he was only standing more than 10 meters away and the driver did not apply the brake and just drove straight into everyone.
Late last month, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser advised people to be vigilant at Christmas markets
Police declined to provide the number of casualties, only confirming that they were conducting a large-scale operation at the market, where people had gathered to celebrate in the days before the Christmas holiday.
“My condolences to the victims and their families,” German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz wrote on social network X.
A video posted on social media from a location above the market showed a car driving at high speed through a crowd of people walking between two rows of market stalls. People can be seen being knocked to the ground and running away.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack. Late last month, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser advised people to be vigilant at Christmas markets.
