Attack in Germany’s Christmas market, Saudi doctor drives car into crowd, 2 killed

Germany Car Accident: A major car accident took place in Magdeburg, Germany on Friday (20 December), in which 2 people died and more than 60 were injured. This accident happened in a Christmas market, where a car entered the crowded area and ran over people. In this case, the local German police has arrested a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia, who was driving the car. It is noteworthy that earlier reports had claimed that 11 people were killed in the attack, but later officials confirmed that only two deaths have occurred so far.

Magdeburg is the capital of Saxony-Anhalt state of Germany, where the accident took place. Giving information about the case to Reuters, city chief Rainer Haseloff said that the accused driver was a German, who had been living in the country for the last two decades. He further said that considering the current situation, there is no other threat present in the city, because we have held only one person responsible in this case, who is in our custody.

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HORRIFIC FOOTAGE

Car plows through Christmas market in Germany.

Multiple injuries and fatalities.

Pray. pic.twitter.com/AHrsrJzWOH

— Laconic Mark (@Bacon_Ranch_) December 20, 2024

What do the German police suspect?
News agency Reuters quoted the local broadcaster as saying that German police suspected that the vehicle contained an explosive device. However, they did not find any explosives inside the car. According to Reuters report, police declined to give the number of casualties and only confirmed a large-scale operation in the market. Apart from this, this incident could also have been an attack.

Police and rescue workers present at the incident site
“The initial assessment is that the Christmas market was attacked,” Michael Reif, a spokesman for German broadcaster MDR, was quoted as saying. He said that many people have been injured. Police and rescue workers are present at the spot. The MDR said several police officers and emergency services were at the scene and the market manager had asked people to leave the city centre. Eyewitnesses told the broadcaster that the car drove straight into the crowd in the market in the direction of the Town Hall.

The accident happened in Germany 8 years ago
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed concern over the incident. He said in a post on X that reports from Magdeburg indicate that something bad is about to happen. My condolences are with the victims and their families. We stand with them and with the people of Magdeburg. My thanks to the rescue workers in these worrying situations. Let us tell you that 8 years ago, a Tunisian man, Anis Amri, had rammed a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring dozens.

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