At least one dead and dozens injured after car plows through German Christmas market, authorities say

At least one dead and dozens injured after car plows through German Christmas market, authorities say


Berlin
CNN

At least one person has died and dozens were injured after a car plowed into a crowd at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, local authorities said.

Between 60 and 80 people were injured in the attack, fire and rescue services told CNN. According to local broadcaster MDR, police said the driver of the car that drove through the crowd was arrested.

Social media footage verified by CNN shows the moment a black car drove directly into the crowd at the busy Christmas market.

In the video, dozens of people crowd the market stalls when the vehicle plows straight into them. You can see some people running away from the car in panic, others rushing into the stalls. As the car leaves the square, bodies and debris are strewn across the narrow street.

Extensive police measures are currently underway on site, the Magdeburg police said in a post on X.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on social media that his thoughts were with the victims of the attack. “We stand by your side and by the people of Magdeburg. “My thanks go to the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours,” he said.

Emergency services take part in an incident at the Christmas market in Magdeburg on December 20, 2024.
Emergency services in front of the Christmas market in Magdeburg.

The MDR reported that the Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, was on his way to Magdeburg, west of Berlin. “This is a terrible event, especially now in the run-up to Christmas,” said Haseloff, according to MDR.

Magdeburg is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt and has around 240,000 inhabitants.

According to the market website, the Christmas market will be open from November 22nd to December 29th. It has around 140 market stalls as well as an ice skating rink, a Ferris wheel and a children’s playground.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNN’s Inke Kappeler, Melissa Gray and Lauren Kent contributed to this report.

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