Photo: picture alliance
A tragic incident occurred at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, where a car plowed into a crowd, resulting in at least two deaths and dozens of injuries on Friday (December 20). The driver of the vehicle has been arrested, and authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack.
Officials said that a total of 68 people were injured, with 15 people suffering serious injuries. Another 37 people were moderately injured, and 16 others were slightly injured in the attack.
The event unfolded in the eastern German town, which is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt, with a population of approximately 240,000. Eyewitnesses reported that the car drove directly into the crowd, heading towards the town hall. Extensive police measures are in place, and emergency services are on the scene.
Authorities said that the suspect is a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia who has a permanent residency permit. He is a doctor and has been living in Germany since 2006.
This incident brings back memories of a similar attack in 2016 in Berlin, where an extremist drove a truck into a Christmas market, causing multiple casualties.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging vigilance, although there were no prior indications of threats to Christmas markets this year.