For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
A car has been driven into a crowd at a Christmas market in eastern Germany.
German news agency dpa has reported that the vehicle was driven into a group of people at the market in Magdeburg on Friday.
A least 11 people have been killed and dozens injured in the incident, according to German newspaper Bild.
A further 60 to 80 people may have been injured, according to the AFP news agency, citing a local rescue service.
The driver of the car was arrested, dpa reported.
Regional government spokesperson Matthias Schuppe and city spokesperson Michael Reif said they suspected it was an attack.
“This is a terrible event, particularly now in the days before Christmas,” Saxony-Anhalt Governor Reiner Haseloff said.
Haseloff told dpa that he was on his way to Magdeburg but couldn’t immediately give any information on victims or what was behind the incident.
Magdeburg, which is west of Berlin, is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt and has about 240,000 inhabitants.
An “extensive police operation” is underway and the market was closed, according to local authorities.
Car drove 400m into crowd – reports
The car was driven “at least 400 meters across the Christmas market” into the crowd, a police spokesman told German media.
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 20:31
At least 11 dead, says report
At least 11 people have been killed, German outlet Bild reported, citing their own information.
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 20:30
Scholz: reports from Magdeburg suggest something bad
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his concern about an incident in the city of Magdeburg.
“The reports from Magdeburg suggest something bad. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Scholz wrote in a post on social media platform X.
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 20:16
Market-goers attempt to treat injured people
A video published by newspaper Bild showed people trying to help what appeared to be multiple injured victims at a crowded Christmas market.
“I estimate there are at least 20 ambulances here, a lot of firefighters, and I can see the police helicopter circling in the sky,” an MDR reporter said during a live broadcast, adding that there were a lot of armed police on site.
Eyewitnesses told MDR that the car drove straight into the crowd at the market, in the direction of the town hall.
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 20:11
Local officials issue statements
Regional government spokesperson Matthias Schuppe and city spokesperson Michael Reif said they suspected it was a deliberate act.
Reif said there were “numerous injured” but didn’t give a precise figure.
“The pictures are terrible,” he said. “My information is that a car drove into the Christmas market visitors, but I can’t yet say from what direction and how far.”
Regional government spokesperson Matthias Schuppe and city spokesperson Michael Reif said they suspected it was a deliberate act.
Reif said there were “numerous injured” but didn’t give a precise figure.
“The pictures are terrible,” he said. “My information is that a car drove into the Christmas market visitors, but I can’t yet say from what direction and how far.”
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 20:09
‘Please let the emergency services do their job’, organisers say
Magedeburg’s Christmas Market warned people to avoid the area in a post on Instagram.
“Due to current circumstances, we advise you to avoid the Christmas market in Magdeburg! Please let the emergency services do their job and leave the market in an orderly manner.”
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 20:03
The scene in pictures
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 19:58
Mapped: Where is Magdeburg?
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 19:57
Car drives into crowd at Christmas market in Germany
German news agency dpa has reported that the vehicle was driven into a group of people at the market in Magdeburg on Friday.
A least one person has been killed and several injured in the incident, according to German public broadcaster MDR.
Regional government spokesperson Matthias Schuppe and city spokesperson Michael Reif said they suspected it was an attack.
Jabed Ahmed20 December 2024 19:56
