BERLIN : At least two people were killed and 60 others injured after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market Friday in the eastern German city of Magdeburg.
Saxony-Anhalt’s Premier Reiner Haseloff said an adult and a child were killed in the “attack.” He warned that the toll could rise, as several victims suffered severe injuries.
According to regional broadcaster MDR, nearly 70 victims were hospitalized, including 15 with life-threatening injuries.
The attack occurred at around 19.04 local time (1804GMT) in the popular Christmas market at Magdeburg’s city center. Videos on social media showed a dark car speeding into the crowd, sending people fleeing in panic and causing chaos at the festive gathering.
Haseloff confirmed that the driver was arrested immediately after the incident. “We have apprehended the perpetrator, he is a doctor from Saudi Arabia who works here in Saxony-Anhalt, and has been in Germany since 2006,” he told reporters.
Authorities have not disclosed a potential motive but a preliminary investigation indicates there were no other suspects involved in the attack.
Police maintained a heavy security presence at the Christmas market and cordoned off the area to secure the crime scene. Local authorities urged residents to avoid the area while investigations were ongoing.
