Magdeburg – There are dramatic scenes just before Christmas: at least two people, an adult and a small child, were killed in an attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market.

Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff also spoke of a lot of injuries, at least 60. Since some were seriously injured, further deaths could not be ruled out. “This is a catastrophe for the city of Magdeburg and for the country and also for Germany in general,” said Haseloff. The police spoke of 15 seriously injured people.

As things stand, a lone perpetrator

The arrested suspect is a doctor who lives and works in Bernburg. “According to current findings, he is a lone perpetrator and is not known to the authorities as Islamist,” said the Prime Minister. “According to the current status, he is a single perpetrator, so as of now there is no further danger to the city because we were able to arrest him and all investigations are now underway.”

State Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang said the man came from Saudi Arabia, that he came to Germany for the first time in 2006 and that he had a permanent residence permit. According to Haseloff, the perpetrator drove a rental car into the crowd at the Christmas market.

Sirens everywhere, flashing lights, fire brigade: A dpa reporter reported that the Christmas market was swarming with ambulances and paramedics. A large Christmas pyramid was the last to be taken care of. Several injured people were carried away.

Intensive care beds are ready

A spokesman for the university hospital told the German Press Agency that the first 10 to 20 patients were currently being cared for. However, they are preparing for significantly more injuries. “We are currently preparing,” said the spokesman. “Intensive care beds are ready.”

Prime Minister Haseloff also thanked all helpers and emergency services: “And my deepest regret and sympathy to all the relatives and all those affected, who were completely torn out of their lives by the shock, even if they were not personally affected.” Everyone now has to do this together Process what happened.

The CDU politician continued to say that the last races should be provided with maximum capacity and resources. “I have to say, everything is really going according to general staff standards.” And yet there is still a situation to be noted here that cannot be conclusively assessed.”

According to Haseloff, Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Magdeburg on Saturday. “The Chancellor will stop by tomorrow and assess the situation with us and will certainly not only mourn with us, but also discuss the measures that are necessary,” said Haseloff in the evening in Magdeburg. “And I can imagine that due to the seriousness of this attack, the Federal Prosecutor General will also take action.”

Chancellor thanks rescue workers

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently repeatedly called for vigilance when visiting Christmas markets. There are currently no concrete indications of danger, said the SPD politician at the end of November. “The news from Magdeburg is deeply shocking,” wrote Faeser after the attack on X. And: “The security authorities will clarify the background.”

Chancellor Scholz also wrote on the platform: “My thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand by your side and by the people of Magdeburg. My thanks go to the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours.” The Green Party’s candidate for chancellor, Robert Habeck, said: “What terrible news from Magdeburg, where people wanted to spend the Advent season in peace and community.”

The FDP chairman Christian Lindner also fell over the alleged attack. “Many people were victims of a fatal attack in Magdeburg,” wrote Lindner on X. “The pictures shocked me. I’m thinking of the victims, their families and the emergency services on site.”

Around eight years after the Berlin Christmas market attack

Almost exactly eight years ago to the day, on December 19, 2016, an Islamist terrorist drove a hijacked truck into the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin. 12 people were killed, the 13th victim died as a result in 2021. More than 70 people were injured. The assassin fled to Italy, where he was shot dead by the police.

The police are now also being particularly careful in other cities with Christmas markets. In Stuttgart, a police spokesman said that police forces had been sensitized on site. In Berlin, a spokesman said officials had been asked to pay more attention to Christmas markets.