At least five people, including a child, were killed and over 200 injured when a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday, according to local media.
The suspect, a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia, was arrested near the scene. He has lived in Germany since 2006 and worked as a doctor in a nearby town. Authorities have not identified a motive, but the suspect had previously shared anti-Islamic statements online and accused Germany of promoting Islamization.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the man as an “Islamophobe,” adding the investigation was in its early stages. The victims included a nine-year-old child and four adults, according to the city’s deputy mayor. Earlier reports mistakenly said the child was a toddler.
Videos from social media show a black car crashing into the crowded market, causing panic. Police initially suspected the car might contain explosives but later ruled this out.
Hospitals in Magdeburg were overwhelmed, and some injured were airlifted to nearby facilities. Emergency services set up treatment areas in a shopping center and on a tram, and over 100 firefighters and 50 rescue workers were mobilized.
Magdeburg’s Christmas market, featuring 140 stalls, an ice rink, and a Ferris wheel, was scheduled to run until December 29. City authorities planned a memorial service at Magdeburg Cathedral and lowered flags to half-mast to honor the victims.
The incident has sparked security concerns, reminiscent of a 2016 attack in Berlin, where a truck drove into a Christmas market, killing 13 people.
Saudi Arabia condemned the attack, offering condolences to the victims and Germany. European leaders, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Netherlands’ Prime Minister Dick Schoof, also expressed their sympathies. The White House said it was monitoring the situation and offered support to German authorities.