Attack on Christmas market – at least one dead

Berlin, Magdeburg. A car crashed into a crowd. There are said to be numerous injuries and at least one death. All developments in the news blog.

• A car crashed into the Christmas market in Magdeburg
• Saxony-Anhalt's state government speaks of an attack
• Police confirmed at least one death. Other media speak of up to 11 dead
• According to consistent media reports, the arrested man comes from Saudi Arabia

On the Magdeburger Christmas market there was an attack. Government spokesman Matthias Schuppe confirmed this to MDR. A car drove into the crowd, as dpa, t-online and the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung unanimously reported, citing eyewitnesses and government circles. The station reports numerous injuries and possibly deaths. According to eyewitnesses, the driver deliberately overcame the barriers with his vehicle. Emergency services were able to arrest the driver after the crime. The police are on site with a large contingent.

In the news blog we keep you up to date with all the important information

Attack on Magdeburg Christmas market: Suspected perpetrator – this is how the arrest went

9:36 p.m.: Another video that apparently has a Passerby filmed on a main street near the Christmas market presumably shows the perpetrator being arrested. The dark SUV is parked on the street, the man is lying on the ground next to the vehicle. Two police officers stand a few meters away, pointing guns at the man. Then two police buses race up and several emergency services get out. They tie the suspected perpetrator with his hands behind his back, while other police officers instruct spectators to move away from the scene. “It is currently difficult to verify the authenticity of the videos. However, the police uniforms and the location indicate that they were taken at the Christmas market in Madgeburg.”

The portal “Die Welt” now reports that the police are said to have clarified the identity of the alleged perpetrator. It is said to be a man from Saudi Arabia who was born in 1974. This has not yet been officially confirmed. It is also not yet clear whether the person alone committed the attack. According to “Welt”, the alleged perpetrator is said to be the dark one BMW rented shortly before the crime.

Explosive device suspected in perpetrator's vehicle

9:28 p.m.: The police assume that… Perpetrator vehicle there may be an explosive device. According to MDR, the area has been secured accordingly.

According to a media report, the alleged perpetrator comes from Saudi Arabia

As the newspaper “Welt” reports, citing security circles, the person arrested is said to be a man born in 1974 Saudi Arabia act.

Numerous politicians expressed their horror

9:20 p.m.: Next to Chancellor Olaf Scholz also commented on CDU leader Friedrich Merz. “My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” he writes on X.

Map shows where the attack took place.

Magdeburg University Hospital is preparing for many injured people

9:15 p.m.: The first injured are in the university hospital Magdeburg treated. The first ten to 20 patients are currently being cared for, said a spokesman for the German Press Agency. However, expect significantly more injuries. “We are currently upgrading,” said the spokesman for the university hospital. “Intensive care beds are ready.”

How well was the Christmas market secured?

9:12 p.m.: It is still unclear how the Christmas market was protected by police and barriers that evening. In a forum on Facebook, a user writes: “We went to the Christmas market in Magdeburg last week. We saw the barriers and sometimes there was a police car there and sometimes not. It's really difficult to lock everything down so securely at this point.” A woman also comments on the security concept: “I was at the Christmas market yesterday, but there were police cars all around the area, how can this happen? Did they sleep?” According to reports from the Magdeburger Volksstimme, the driver is said to have broken through barriers to get to grips with him vehicle to get to the Christmas market. The newspaper does not provide any details about the protective devices.

Eyewitness describes “picture of devastation”

9:10 p.m.: According to her own statements, a woman was there at the time of the crime Christmas market. Shortly afterwards she wrote on Facebook: “It was a terrible picture of devastation. I wish everyone who was hit directly and their families a speedy recovery and a lot of strength. It was only a coincidence that we weren’t in that hallway.”

Another user writes down Facebook: “My son came to us today with his family from Bielefeld and we all wanted to go to the Christmas market together with his sisters and family. Luckily we decided against it or simply had a lot of guardian angels.”

Scholz thanks the rescue workers

9:08 p.m.: Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that his thoughts were with the victims and their families. “We stand by your side and by the people of Magdeburg. My thanks go to the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours,” said Scholz.

Videos show large-scale operations and sometimes chaotic scenes

20.58: There are numerous ones circulating on X Videosthat capture what is happening.

Emergency services assume 60 to 80 people were injured

8:50 p.m.: The rescue service assumes 60 to 80 injuries, reports the afp news agency. The confirmed to the MDR police sometimes a dead person.

Haseloff: “This is a terrible event”

8:45 p.m.: Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) reacted with horror to what happened at the Magdeburg Christmas market. “This is a terrible event, especially now in the days before Christmas,” said Haseloff to the German Press Agency. He now wants to get an idea of ​​the situation on site and is on his way in the car Magdeburg. Haseloff was initially unable to provide any information about the victims or the background to the incident.

Video shows BMW racing into the crowd without braking

8:42 p.m.: A short video is circulating on social media such as Telegram. It shows a dark car driving seemingly unchecked into the crowd of visitors Christmas market racing. The authenticity of the video has not yet been confirmed. At least the vehicle corresponds to the information from our editorial team. The alleged crime vehicle is said to be a dark BMW. According to the security authorities, he drove to the Christmas market without braking at 7:04 p.m. Therefore it is a perpetrator. The police were able to arrest him. Nothing is yet known about the motive for the crime.

Eyewitnesses describe black SUV

8:41 p.m.: According to the newspaper, eyewitnesses reported that the driver of a black SUV was at the level of a former fast food restaurant in the direction of the Christmas market turned onto the Old Market. He broke through security and then drove into a crowd.

Media reports of at least 11 deaths

8:38 p.m.: The Magdeburger Volksstimme reports at least eleven dead and 60 injured. The information has not yet been officially confirmed. Some of the injured are in critical condition. Rescue workers and the fire brigade are currently setting up rescue tents.

A large police force is on site

8:36 p.m.: So far the situation is confusing. There are numerous pictures circulating on social media Emergency vehicles from fire brigade and police. A video shows the perpetrator's vehicle racing through a dense crowd of people.

Police confirm at least one death

8:26 p.m.: Eyewitnesses reported to various media that numerous people were injured. The police have now confirmed at least one death to MDR.

Prime Minister wants to get an idea of ​​the situation

8:21 p.m.: Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt Rainer Haseloff is on the way to Magdeburg to get an idea of ​​the situation. As government spokesman Matthias Schuppe confirmed, it was an attack.