A car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing at least five people, including a child, and injuring over 200 others on Friday.
The suspect, a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia with permanent residency in Germany, was arrested and is believed to have acted alone. Authorities say he had shared anti-Islam statements online before the attack.
Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff described the scene as “unimaginable” and vowed that those responsible would be punished. Chancellor Olaf Scholz also spoke out, saying that Germany must remain united after the tragedy.
Security measures at markets across Germany were tightened after a terror attack in 2016. The incident has raised questions about how the suspect was able to gain access to the event via car.
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation from world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and European leaders. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also condemned the attack, expressing sympathy for the families of the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.
A memorial service is being held at Magdeburg Cathedral on Saturday, with crowds gathering outside to pay their respects to the victims.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/20/europe/germany-christmas-market-car-intl-latam/index.html