A terrorist attack at Germany’s Magdeburg Christmas market on December 20, 2024, has left 5 dead and approximately 200 injured. The exact number is still unknown as some of the injured are in critical condition.
According to Die Welt, the suspect, a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia, was arrested at the scene, and authorities are treating the incident as terrorism rather than an accident. Der Spiegel magazine reports the suspect had sympathies with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
The man has been living in Germany for almost two decades. A Saudi source told Reuters that Saudi Arabia had warned German authorities about the attacker after he posted extremist views on his personal X account that threatened peace and security.
At around 7:04 p.m. local time, the dark-colored BMW driven by the attacker plowed through barriers and into a crowd of shoppers. Eyewitnesses described the chaotic scene, with some likening it to a war zone. The attack was captured in videos circulating on social media, showing the car speeding through narrow alleyways filled with market stalls.
🇩🇪🚨‼️ INSANE: Another terrorist attack both a vehicle on a German Christmas market!
A car drove straight through the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany.
Multiple dead and many injured! pic.twitter.com/nR9AUoBFT4
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) December 20, 2024
The attack came just days before Christmas, prompting swift responses from German authorities. Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the site of the attack expressed his shock, offering condolences to the victims and their families. Saxony-Anhalt’s leader, Reiner Haseloff, also condemned the incident, calling it “terrible” and lamenting the attack’s timing during the holiday season, as reported by The Times.
Emergency workers arrived quickly, and several victims were treated at the scene. The operator of a food stall described the event as “reminiscent of a war,” while witnesses reported hearing screams. One woman recalled throwing herself and her child out of the car’s path in the section of the market decorated with fairytale scenes, which was popular with families and children.
Magdeburg Christmas market
Magdeburg, located in western Germany with a population of around 240,000, is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt. The attack has revived concerns about security at Christmas markets, which are a longstanding target for terrorism.
Germany is home to over 2,500 Christmas markets, and keeping them safe has been a top priority since the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack, where a truck was driven into a crowd, killing 12 and injuring dozens, as noted by Die Welt.
In response to this, German authorities had implemented heightened security measures, including barriers to prevent vehicles from entering crowded areas. Despite reassurances earlier in the year that there were no specific threats to Christmas markets in 2024, according to The Times, the Magdeburg attack has served as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of these festive events.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are exploring whether explosives were linked to the attack. As the situation unfolds, the public is urged to stay alert, and the tragic events in Magdeburg highlight the continuing threat of terrorism in public spaces.
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