Two dead, dozens injured after car rams into crowd at Christmas market in Germany

A tragic incident unfolded on December 20 in Magdeburg, Germany, when a car plowed into a crowded Christmas market, leaving at least two people dead, including a young child, and injuring scores of others. 

Local officials are calling the attack a suspected act of terror, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The car, a black BMW, sped through the crowd for about 400 meters, heading toward the town hall. According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle struck at high speed, causing chaos and panic among the market-goers.

At least 68 people were reported injured, with 15 in critical condition, according to city officials.

Videos shared on social media show the car driving into the crowd, and while the footage has not been officially confirmed, it was widely circulated in media coverage. Emergency services rushed to the scene, where victims were treated among pools of blood. Makeshift tents were set up to assist the injured, as witnesses described the scene as "reminiscent of a war."

Saxony-Anhalt’s leader, Reiner Haseloff, called the event "terrible," especially during the holiday season. "This is a terrible event, particularly now in the days before Christmas," he said.

The driver, identified as 50-year-old Taleb A., a medical doctor from Saudi Arabia, was arrested at the scene. He has been living in Germany since 2006 and was granted refugee status in 2016. Local media have reported that he had expressed anti-Islamic views on social media in the past, though he was not previously known to authorities for any extremist connections.

Reports indicate that the driver rented the car shortly before the attack. One witness described how the car was deliberately driven into the part of the market filled with fairy tale scenes, where many families with children were gathered. The woman said she narrowly escaped with her child when the car sped toward them.

After the attack, police cleared the area to investigate for possible explosives, but authorities later confirmed that no such device was found. A separate police operation was conducted in Bernburg, where the suspect is believed to have lived.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his shock over the incident, saying, "The reports from Magdeburg raise the worst fears." Scholz, along with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, was set to visit the city on Saturday to assess the situation.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also responded, stating that the attack had "suddenly interrupted the anticipation of a peaceful Christmas." He emphasized that the motives behind the act were still unclear.

Magdeburg, with a population of around 240,000, is the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, located west of Berlin. The city is now grappling with the aftermath of a devastating event that has shaken the community and the nation.

By Tamilla Hasanova