Car drives into crowd at German Christmas market, killing at least two, injuring 63
An ambulance stands next to a Christmas market, where a car crashed into a crowd killing and injuring people, according to media, on December 12, 2024 in Magdeburg. (AFP Photo)
A car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday, killing two, and injuring at least 63 people in what authorities are investigating as a potential terrorist attack.
According to German media reports, at least two people were killed after the attack reportedly carried out by a Saudi national.
Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle smashed through barriers protecting the market and sped into pedestrians. A video, reportedly captured by a nearby camera, shows the car speeding through a narrow alley, mowing down shoppers as it passed between stalls.
Reports suggest more than 63 people were injured, with 15 in critical condition. The driver of the car was apprehended shortly after the incident, according to the German news agency DPA. Police have since closed off the area as they conduct a search for explosives.
The attack occurred in the heart of Magdeburg, a city in eastern Germany, during a bustling Christmas market. As a precaution, authorities are ramping up security in the area, and the prime minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, is reportedly en route to the scene.
This incident follows a pattern of attacks targeting Christmas markets across Europe in recent years, with both Germany and France increasing security efforts in response. Videos circulating on social media show a chaotic scene, with injured people on the ground and a large police presence surrounding the market.
Authorities have yet to confirm the motive behind the attack, but the incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of public spaces during the holiday season.
