Attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg: What is known?

After a man was arrested, investigations into the attack in Magdeburg are underway. Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister spoke in the daily topics of a “terrible tragedy”. What is known so far – and what is not.

What happened?

A car drove into a crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. According to information from WDR and NDR The time of the crime is stated in an internal report from the Magdeburg police as shortly after 7 p.m. All police forces in the region are said to have been contacted, and the special forces from Central Germany were also deployed.

Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) said daily topicstwo people were killed and at least 60 were injured – “quite a number” of them seriously. A suspect was arrested. The Christmas market was closed and tram traffic stopped.

Who is the suspect?

The arrested suspect is said to be a 50-year-old man who comes from Saudi Arabia. The man is said to have rented the car that was used in the crime.

Prime Minister Haseloff specified in the daily topicsit is a doctor who has lived in Germany since 2006. He worked in Saxony-Anhalt. According to Haseloff, it is currently a case of a single perpetrator. According to current estimates, there is no further danger for the city.

Is there information about a motive?

No. Haseloff said in the daily topicsthe investigations were ongoing. He could imagine that “due to the seriousness of this attack,” the Federal Prosecutor General would also take action. There are signals in this direction. You are “in the middle of the analysis.”

According to information from security circles, which the dpa news agency refers to, the arrested suspect was not previously known to the German authorities as an Islamist.

The car in which the driver drove into the crowd “at least 400 meters above the Christmas market” was still on site. The car is a black BMW.

Where are those affected cared for?

The first injured people were treated at the Magdeburg University Hospital. Expect significantly more injuries. “We are currently upgrading,” said a spokesman for the university hospital in the evening, “intensive care beds are ready.” The police posted a phone number for relatives on X. Numerous paramedics were on site. Supply tents were set up.

How did politicians react?

Prime Minister Haseloff said in the daily topics his deepest regrets and condolences. He thanked the emergency services and spoke of a terrible tragedy and catastrophe for the city of Magdeburg and Germany. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to visit on Saturday.

Scholz himself wrote on His thanks go to “the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours.”

Among others, the Green candidate for chancellor Robert Habeck, Union chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz and AfD candidate Alice Weidel were dismayed, as was the FDP top candidate Christian Lindner.