A tragic incident occurred on Friday evening at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, where a speeding car ploughed into a crowd, leaving scores injured and at least two people dead, including a small child.
Authorities have labeled the event a terror attack, as confirmed by local officials.
The attack, which took place at around 7:04 PM local time, saw a black BMW barreling through the market for approximately 400 meters, heading toward the town hall.
Eyewitnesses reported the car traveling at high speed before striking visitors at the festive venue.
According to the city government’s website, at least 68 people sustained injuries, with 15 in critical condition.
The driver, identified as 50-year-old Taleb A., was arrested at the scene. A medical doctor from Saudi Arabia, Taleb A. had been residing in Germany since 2006 and was recognized as a refugee in 2016.
Footage from the aftermath captured the suspect lying on the ground near the wrecked vehicle, with a police officer pointing a weapon at him.
Local authorities have stated there is no indication of accomplices, describing him as a lone perpetrator.
Saxony-Anhalt state president Reiner Haseloff remarked, “As things stand, he is a lone perpetrator, so that as far as we know there is no further danger to the city.”
Reports indicated that the suspect had rented the vehicle shortly before the attack, and he was not previously known to authorities for any Islamist links.
Despite security measures, including heavy bollards installed at the market, the car managed to access the area, raising concerns among experts.
Terrorism expert Hans-Jakob Schindler noted, “In the first instance, it’s a surprise that a vehicle of that size was able to drive onto a Christmas market in Germany.”
The scene was sealed off amid concerns about a package left on the car’s front passenger seat, initially suspected to contain explosives.
Emergency services quickly mobilized, with makeshift medical tents erected and victims treated on-site. Witnesses described chaotic and horrifying scenes, with one market stall operator likening the situation to “a war.”
Magdeburg Mayor Regina-Dolores Stieler-Hinz confirmed one death and over 50 injuries, though emergency services suggested the number of injured might be as high as 80.
Hospitals within a 50-mile radius were placed on alert, and emergency helicopters were dispatched to transport the wounded.
According to a witness, the driver appeared to target a section of the market featuring fairy-tale decorations, a spot popular with families. A mother shared how she narrowly escaped with her child, “The perpetrator had driven deliberately into the section of the Christmas market decked out with scenes from fairytales, where a lot of families with young children were gathered.”
Videos shared on social media captured the chaos as the vehicle sped through the crowd, though their authenticity remains unverified. Other footage showed police subduing the suspect, with bystanders watching in shock.
Among those affected was Nadine, 32, from Wolfsburg, who recounted losing her boyfriend Marco during the attack.
“He was hit by the car and ripped away from me,” she told Bild. “It was terrible. No one even screamed. I didn’t even hear the car.” She added that Marco suffered head and leg injuries and was taken to an unknown hospital.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences, writing on X, “The reports from Magdeburg raise the worst fears.” He and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser plan to visit the city. French President Emmanuel Macron also shared his sympathies, saying he was “profoundly shocked” by the tragedy.
This incident has reignited concerns over security at Germany’s popular Christmas markets. Following a 2016 attack in Berlin where 13 people were killed in a similar event, many markets implemented stringent protective measures.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had recently noted there were no concrete indications of threats this year, though vigilance remained critical.
The Magdeburg Christmas market, typically a joyful gathering in a city of 240,000 residents, closed indefinitely following the attack.
Its Facebook page carried a somber message, “The Christmas market is now closed for today. We ask for your understanding.”
