A vehicle was driven into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, central Germany, on Friday evening, killing one adult and a child and injuring dozens of others in what officials described as a targeted attack.
The driver, identified as a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian citizen who had worked as a doctor in a small town near Magdeburg since 2006, was arrested. Authorities believe the attack was deliberate and are investigating the motive.
More than 65 people were injured, with 14 seriously hurt, said Michael Reif, spokesman for Magdeburg. The city’s governor, Reiner Haseloff, condemned the attack, calling it a “terrible tragedy.”
Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, expressed concern about the safety of those injured and mourned the loss of life. The government has increased security measures at Christmas markets in recent years following previous attacks.
The incident comes as Germany faces an ongoing threat from terrorism, with the head of domestic intelligence agency warning earlier this month that the country’s threat level had increased due to conflicts in the Middle East.
Temporary barriers are used to secure many Christmas markets, but it remains unclear how the driver bypassed these measures. The attack has led to additional security measures being implemented in cities across Germany and abroad, including New York City.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/20/world/europe/germany-christmas-market-crash.html