Alert – Magdeburg Christmas Market chaos: Latest updates from scene of incident in Germany after car drives into crowd of people killing ‘at least two’ and injuring nearly 70

A car has driven into a group of people at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg. Here is what we know so far:

• Prime Minister of Saxony Anhalt Reiner Haselhoff has confirmed two people have been killed in the attack.
• Nearly 70 have been injured in the attack, 15 of whom have been seriously injured.
• The driver of the car – reported to be a dark BMW, has been arrested following the crash which took place at 7:04pm today.
• The suspect of the attack has been named as psychiatrist Taleb A – a specialist in psychiatrist and psychotherapy
• Police have yet to give the all clear on the suspected explosive device inside the vehicle

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has joined other world leaders whilst expressing his ‘shock’ following the ‘terrible attack’

Shocked by the terrible attack at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg.

I just spoke with the Chancellor,@OlafScholz, to convey all my solidarity and affection to the victims, their families and all the German people.’

An eyewitness spoke of the ‘chaotic situation’ following the fatal crash at the Magdeburg Christmas Market tonight.

The German reporter Lars Frohmüller described how he saw ‘blood on the floor’ as people were being wrapped in silver foils.

It was a real chaotic situation”, Lars Frohmüller said.

We saw blood on the floor, we saw people sitting beside each other and having golden and silver foils around them.

And we saw many doctors trying to keep people warm and help them with their injuries

‘Everywhere were ambulances, there were police, there were a lot of firefighters.”

By Perkin Almaraj

This is the moment a Saudi doctor who drove through a massive crowd at a German Christmas, killing at least two and injuring nearly 70 people, was arrested with a suspected explosive device.

The driver of the car, reported to be a dark BMW, was arrested following the crash which took place at 7:04pm today in the city of Magdeburg, according to unidentified government officials in the state of Saxony-Anhalt who spoke to the dpa news agency.

Video footage of the moment appears to show armed police crowding around a dark car and forcing a bearded man to slowly exit.

By Francine Wolfisz

This is the poignant moment FC Magdeburg players stood in silence and solidarity with fans despite a huge victory over their opponents as news of a horrific Christmas market attack that has killed at least eleven and injured dozens filtered into the stadium.

FC Magdeburg secured a 5-2 victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf on Friday night, but there were no cheers or celebrations, just silence, once the final whistle blew.

Screens inside the Düsseldorf Merkur Spiel-Arena, which has capacity for 54,000 fans, displayed a message relaying news of a car having driven into a group of people at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday night, leaving at least one person dead and almost 70 people injured. Fifteen are thought to have serious injuries.

The suspect who careened a vehicle into a crowded Christmas market is thought to have acted alone, Reiner Haselhoff, Saxony Anhalf Prime Minister says.

A young child and an adult are among the two people have died, the German politician said.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is set to visit Magdeburg on Saturday following the attack on the Christmas market, according to the region’s Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff (CDU) said:

The Chancellor will come here tomorrow and assess the situation with us and will certainly not only mourn with us but also discuss the necessary measures

And I can imagine that due to the seriousness of this attack, the Federal Prosecutor General will also take action.’

The University Medical Centre Magdeburg has created three hotlines for the family members of the injured.

• 0391 67 – 25218
• 0391 67 – 25219
• 0391 67 – 15663

In a press conference in the wake of the attack, the German city’s mayor Simone Borris has announced there will be a memorial at St John’s Church.

Responding to the tragic incident, she said: ‘I am deeply shocked.’

There will also be a memorial service at the Magdeburg Cathedral tomorrow at 7pm local time in memory of the victims

Here are a series of photos of emergency services responding to the scene as well as cordoning off the city centre following the crash at Magdeburg Christmas market tonight.

The President of France has taken to X to express his ‘deep’ shock following the tragedy at the Magdeburg Christmas Market tonight.

His statement read:

Deeply shocked by the horror that struck the Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany this evening.

My thoughts are with the victims, the injured, and their loved ones and families.

France shares the pain of the German people and expresses its full solidarity.’

Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, said just last month that a ‘great vigilance’ was needed at Germany’s Christmas markets.

The politician said that even though there were no ‘concrete’ signs of danger, harsher legislation on weapons in public areas were needed following the Solingen knife attack.

A Syrian man, 26, was detained as prosecutors claimed he was a member of the Islamic State Group (IS) following the incident last August where three people died.

The Foreign Office has said it is ‘closely monitoring the situation’ in Germany after a car ploughed into crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing at least two.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: ‘We are in contact with the German authorities following an incident in the city of Magdeburg and are closely monitoring the situation.

‘Our thoughts are with all those affected.’

Magdeburg’s centre has been closed off following the fatal crash.

On top of this, the Breiter Weg Süd and Nord stations are closed to rail traffic.

The suspect of the attack has been named as psychiatrist Taleb A., a specialist in psychiatrist and psychotherapy.

Spiegel reported that he was born in the Saudi Arabian city of Hofuf.

Police have still not given the go-ahead for residents in the immediate area to return to their homes, as thry are still dealing with a mysterious piece of luggage left by the perpetrator on the passenger seat of the car.

In a post to X, Germany’s interior minister said: ‘The news from Magdeburg is deeply shocking. The emergency services are doing everything they can to care for the injured and save lives.

‘Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The security authorities will clarify the background.’

Bild spoke to 32-year-old Nadine from Wolfsburg who travelled to the city with her boyfriend.

She reportedly said that her boyfriend was in her arms when the car sped into him.

‘He was hit and pulled away from my side. It was terrible. Nobody even screamed. You couldn’t hear the car either.”

Marco sustained injuries to his leg and head. “We don’t know which hospital he went to. The uncertainty is unbearable.”

Reiner Haseloff, the state premier of Saxony-Anhalt, revealed that the terror attack was perpetrated by a ‘lone’ doctor ‘who has been in Germany since 2006.

“From what we currently know he was a lone attacker so we don’t think there is any further danger for the city,” he added.

Saxony Anhalt Prime Minister Reiner Haselhoff shared more information regarding the suspect following his arrest.

The alleged driver is said to be 50-year-old, who is originally from Saudi Arabia. The man is believed to have first come to Germany in 2006.

It has also been said that he woked as a doctor, according to the PM.

Police have said they are not currently looking for any other suspects in relation to the crash

The Prime Minister of Saxony Anhalt Reiner Haselhoff has confirmed at least two people have been killed in the Christmas Market attack in Magdeburg.

The two have died include a toddler and an adult, local media reports.

Chancellor OIaf Scholz posted on X after initially sharing that he feared ‘the worst’ as reports emerged from Magdeburg.

My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives. We stand beside them and beside the people of Magdeburg.’

By Perkin Amalaraj

This is the moment the alleged Saudi perpetrator of the horrific Christmas market car smash was arrested with an explosive device after he drove through a massive crowd, killing at least 11 and injuring nearly 70 people.

The driver of the car, reported to be a dark BMW, was arrested following the crash which took place at 7:04pm today in the city of Magdeburg, according to unidentified government officials in the state of Saxony-Anhalt who spoke to the dpa news agency.

Video footage of the moment appears to show armed police crowding around a dark car and forcing a bearded man to slowly exit.

Several cops were seen crowding around the man with their weapons drawn while shouting at him. Cops were also seen shooing the growing crowd around the arrest incident, as a police officer crouches down over him with a torch.

He is said to have been a man from Saudi Arabia who was born in 1974, per Welt.

Bild reported that the car was driven ‘at least 400m (1,300ft) across the Christmas market’, per a police spokesperson.

A car drove into a group of people at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, leaving at least one person dead and between 60 and 80 people injured.

The driver of the car, reported to be a dark BMW, was arrested following the crash which took place at 7:04pm today, according to unidentified government officials in the state of Saxony-Anhalt who spoke to the dpa news agency.

Bild reported that the car was driven ‘at least 400m (1,300ft) across the Christmas market’, per a police spokesperson.

According to emergency services, who have set up tents to immediately treat victims, several people were ‘severely’ injured.

Video footage too graphic to share appears to show the dark car careening into the dense crowd, leaving dozens of people lying on the floor.

Within seconds, countless revellers can be see fleeing for their lives in the wake of the crash. Separate footage showed children crying loudly as several small crowds of people formed over those injured in the crash, in apparent attempts to help them.

Tonight’s fatal incident, which saw a car plough into a crowd of people, happened in Magdeburg which is central Germany.

The city is around an hour and a half away by car from Berlin, with its Christmas market being a huge attraction for tourists.

The state capital of Saxony-Anhalt is located on the Elbe River, and has around 240,000 residents.

Following the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market, almost 70 are injured – 15 of whom are seriously injured, city authorities have said.

According der Bild, ‘at least 11’ people have been killed.

People have been urged to avoid the area via a statement published on Magdeburg Christmjas Market Instagram page.

The statement reads: ‘Please let the emergency services do their job and leave the market in an orderly manner.’

German broadcaster Welt has reported that the perpetrator is a man from Saudi Arabia who was born in 1974.

He is said to have rented the dark BMW used in the attack, and left a piece of luggage in the passenger seat.

All hospitals in the German city of Magdeburg are “preparing for a mass casualty event”, a spokesperson has said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his concern in a post to X, writing: ‘The reports from Magdeburg suggest something bad. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.’

Bild reported that the car was driven ‘at least 400m (1,300ft) across the Christmas market’, per a police spokesperson.

• A car drove into a group of people at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg
• The incident took place at 7.04pm local time on Friday
• The driver of the car, reported to be a dark BMW, was arrested following the crash
• At least one person is dead and between 60 and 80 people are injured.
• Local police said on X that ‘extensive police operations are currently taking place’

Hello and welcome to the live blog on the German Christmas Market tragedy, which has seen at least 20 people injured and one person killed car drove into a group of people.

We will be providing all the latest updates from Madeburg throughout the night.