A driver rammed a car into a large crowd at a Christmas market in central Germany, resulting in at least two fatalities, including a young child, and injuring more than 60 people.
The incident occurred in Magdeburg, the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt, approximately 150 km (90 miles) west of Berlin.
Authorities identified the suspect as a 50-year-old male doctor from Saudi Arabia.
He had been living in Germany for nearly two decades and held permanent residency.
Haseloff stated that the suspect “acted alone and posed no further threat” to the public after his arrest.
The motive for the attack remains unclear.
Reports emerged that the kingdom had previously warned German authorities about the suspect, who allegedly expressed extremist views on social media.
Police conducted a thorough search of the area around the vehicle for potential explosive devices, but no such threats were found.
A police operation is also underway in Bernburg, the town where the suspect is believed to have resided. Local authorities have not yet provided further comments on these developments.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences to the victims and their families via social media and is expected to visit the scene on Saturday alongside Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos as the vehicle sped through the market stalls, with one witness, identified as Nadine, recounting how her boyfriend was hit and injured. “The uncertainty is unbearable,” she stated.
In light of this incident, Faeser had previously urged vigilance at Christmas markets, which have become potential targets for extremist attacks. This tragic event echoes the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack, where a truck was used to kill 12 people.
