Car plows into visitors at Christmas market in Germany: eleven dead and between 60 and 80 injured according to provisional toll

Le secteur est bouclé. MAXPPP – Leyla Vidal

According to the German press, a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg. One man was arrested. For the moment, the authorities are announcing an initial toll of eleven dead and between 60 and 80 injured.

This Friday evening, an attack reportedly left several victims in the city of Magdeburg, according to the local media Volksstimme. The local police deplore the death of one person. A BMW car drove into a crowd at around 7 p.m. at a Christmas market.

Eleven dead

A car plowed into a group of people at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, northern Germany, on Friday, leaving “several seriously injured”, several media outlets and emergency services told AFP. The media outlet Bild reported that the attack left at least eleven people dead. 60 to 80 injured were reported.

Emergency tents have been set up on the scene. Helicopters are arriving on the scene to evacuate the most seriously injured.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

The hospitals in the region have been alerted and are preparing to receive the injured. The spokesperson for the Magdeburg University Hospital indicates that “the intensive care beds are ready”.

Suspicions of an attack

The regional authorities have said they suspect an “attack” in Germany, at the Magdeburg Christmas market where dozens of people were injured Friday after a car plowed into the crowd.

“We believe it was an attack,” a spokeswoman for the Saxony-Anhalt regional interior ministry told AFP .

A man arrested

The media LOL also reports that a man suspected of being the driver of the vehicle was arrested. According to Bild, he drove 400 meters on the Christmas market.

According to Welt, the suspect is currently in custody. He is believed to be a man born in 1974, originally from Saudi Arabia.

Olaf Scholz reacts

Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his shock following the ongoing tragedy.

“The reports coming from Magdeburg suggest the worst. My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. We are at their side and at the side of the people of Magdeburg. I thank the rescue teams involved in these hours of anguish,” he wrote on the social network X.

Sector cordoned

“Large police operations are currently taking place at the Magdeburg Christmas market. The Christmas market in the city centre is closed”, the local police say.

 

 

» More information to follow…