2 killed, dozens injured in Christmas market attack – DW – 12/20/2024

Magdeburg police said they arrested a male suspect late Friday night.

“This will make our job much easier,” he said, appealing to locals to go home or stay at home.

In a later update, city police said they believe the suspect acted alone.

“As for the suspect, it appears to be a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia. The individual was immediately apprehended at the crime scene and placed under temporary arrest. We are currently working on the assumption of a lone culprit.” Police said.

Conservative CDU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz said he was saddened by the news from Magdeburg.

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I would like to thank all the emergency services who attended to the injured at the scene,” he said.

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck also expressed his shock at “the terrible news from Magdeburg, where people wanted to spend the Advent season in peace and community. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.”

Chancellor Olaf Scholz reacted to the incident online, saying, “The news from Magdeburg indicates a worst-case scenario.” He also thanked first responders.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Feser said she was in contact with her counterpart at the state level in Saxony-Anhalt and offered whatever assistance federal authorities could provide in the investigation.

“The shocking crime in Magdeburg just days before Christmas hits our hearts,” Feser said in a press release. “Emergency services are doing everything they can to care for those affected.”

He said he and Chancellor Scholz would also visit Magdeburg on Saturday.

At around 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Friday a man drove a rented car into a crowded Christmas market in the central German city of Magdeburg, killing two people and injuring more than 60.

You can read our main article on the apparent attack here.

Police in Magdeburg have arrested a Saudi national and believe he acted alone.

Police say the man is not known to have any Islamist ties, but said they are still investigating a possible motive for the attack.

Saxony-Anhalt state Premier Rainer Hasselhoff said the man was a doctor with permanent residence status who had lived in Germany since 2006.