A driver who killed at least two people when he rammed into a large crowd of revellers at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg has been described as a doctor from Saudi Arabia who was acting alone by the premier of the state of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff, APA reports.
At least 60 people were injured, according to Mr Haseloff, where Magdeburg is the capital.
One of the dead was a young child, Mr Haseloff added.
Police have arrested the suspected attacker, who Mr Haseloff described as a doctor from Saudi Arabia who was acting alone.
"It's a terrible tragedy. It is a catastrophe for the city of Magdeburg, for the state and for Germany in general," Mr Haseloff said.
Police declined to give casualty numbers, confirming only a large-scale operation at the market, where people had gathered to celebrate in the days leading up to the Christmas holidays.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said reports indicated something bad had happened.
"My thoughts are with the victims and their families," he wrote in a post on social media platform X.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said he is "shocked and appalled" at the loss of life in Magdeburg, and has urged Irish citizens in the area to follow advice from local authorities.
"My thoughts and prayers go to the victims, their families, emergency services and the German people," he said.
A video posted on social media from a position above the market shows a car driving at speed through a crowd walking between two rows of market stalls.
People can be seen knocked to the ground and running away.
***
Police have detained the driver of the car that drove into people at high speed, and he is said to be a Saudi Arabian born in 1974, writes Welt newspaper, citing law enforcement agencies, APA reports.
A search for explosives is underway at the scene of the incident in Magdeburg.
Witnesses said the car was deliberately driven towards people visiting the market.
State officials have described the incident as a terrorist attack.
Eleven people were killed and up to 80 were injured.
***23:17/20 Dec 2024
A driver killed at least two people when he rammed into a large crowd of revellers at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday evening, local officials said, APA reports citing Reuters.
At least 60 people were injured, said Reiner Haseloff, premier of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, where Magdeburg is the capital. One of the dead was a young child, Haseloff added.
Police have arrested the suspected attacker, who Haseloff described as a doctor from Saudi Arabia who was acting alone.
"It's a terrible tragedy. It is a catastrophe for the city of Magdeburg, for the state and for Germany in general," Haseloff said.
Police declined to give casualty numbers, confirming only a large-scale operation at the market, where people had gathered to celebrate in the days leading up to the Christmas holidays.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said reports indicated something bad had happened.
"My thoughts are with the victims and their families," he wrote in a post on social media platform X.
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on TikTok
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on X
