At a busy German Christmas market on Friday night, a motorist crashed his vehicle into a crowd of people, killing two and leaving at least 68 others injured in what was believed to be a planned attack.
The market incident in the German city of Magdeburg, which happened at around 7 p.m. local time, has prompted a massive police response.
The death of a small child was verified by Saxony-Anhalt Governor Reiner Haseloff.
Reporters were informed by Saxony-Anhalt interior minister Tamara Zieschang that the suspect is a Saudi physician, aged 50, who has been in the nation since 2006. He is referred to as Taleb in the local media. A.
The suspect is being held by the police.
As Haseloff previously said, this is a horrible occurrence, particularly in the days leading up to Christmas.
Regarding X, Chancellor OIaf Scholz wrote, I’m thinking of the victims and their loved ones. We support them and the Magdeburg community.
How many people have died or injured?
Officials revealed that the terrible occurrence claimed the lives of at least two persons. A little child was among those killed.
According to government officials and the local government’s website, at least 68 people are thought to have been hurt thus far, with 15 of those suffering extremely critical injuries.
It stated that 16 people got minor injuries and 37 sustained medium-severe injuries.
With so many individuals seriously hurt, Haseloff was unable to rule out more deaths.
According to Haseloff, each and every human life lost as a result of this act is a horrible tragedy and one too many.
According to the DPA, Magdeburg’s University Hospital stated that it was now caring for 10 to 20 patients while getting ready for others.
Who is the suspect?
Saxony-Anhalt interior minister Tamara Zieschang said the suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi physician, had first entered Germany in 2006.
He is known as Taleb A in German media. He currently works as a psychiatrist and psychotherapy consultant in the nearby town of Bernburg after being recognized as a refugee in 2016.
According to Zieschang, the offender has been taken into custody. In 2006, the 50-year-old Saudi national made his first appearance in the Federal Republic of Germany. He was granted permission to live there permanently.
Behind a police cordon, the black BMW was observed at the site, smashed up.
The culprit is thought to have acted alone.
As of right now, he is the only one responsible, therefore as far as we are aware, the city is not in any danger, Haseloff stated during a press conference.
Police believed that the suspect’s car contained explosives, but upon deeper examination, no explosives were discovered, according to German public broadcaster MDR.
Fairytale market turns into war-like scenes
She and her kids jumped out of the way of the speeding car as it plowed into the crowd, a witness told the German newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.
The unnamed witness compared the scene to a fairy tale before the attack.
A burger stand owner described the incident as “war-like” to the newspaper as the car drove past his stall.
Bild was informed by another witness that she is frantically searching for her partner, who was hit.
The 32-year-old lady, Nadine, told the newspaper that when the automobile drove in their direction, she put her arm around him.
I hit him and yanked him away from me. He was awful. No one let out a cry. The automobile could not be heard.
She says she doesn’t know where her partner is and that he has injuries to his head and legs. She told us that we don’t know which hospital he visited. There is too much ambiguity.
Where is the Christmas market?
Magdeburg, west of Berlin, is the site of the Christmas market. With a population of 240,000, it serves as the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt.
On the final Friday before Christmas, the big market was crowded with people.
Following the attack, it was evacuated right away, and organizers have asked people to stay away from the area.
Debris from festive stalls was seen on the ground in footage taken from a section of the market that was roped off.
A service was held yesterday to honor the eighth anniversary of an attack on a Christmas market in Berlin. In 2016, Anis Amri crashed his car into a crowd, killing thirteen people and injuring scores more.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.