At least two people were killed and 68 others were injured, including 15 seriously, when a speeding car plowed through the crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday evening. The incident is being treated as a suspected attack, as a car deliberately crashed into the crowd, causing widespread chaos and devastation.
Local public broadcaster MDR reported that the two victims included an adult and a toddler. The Christmas market, a popular festive destination in the city, was filled with holiday shoppers when the car sped through the area, creating panic and confusion among the crowd.
Of the 68 injured, 37 suffered moderate injuries while 16 sustained minor injuries. Emergency response teams, including approximately 100 firefighters and 50 rescue workers, rushed to the scene to provide immediate medical assistance and transport the wounded to nearby hospitals. Local authorities are working rapidly to handle the aftermath and ensure public safety.
Saxony-Anhalt Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff confirmed the tragic toll of the attack, while also expressing condolences to the victims’ families. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser expressed her shock and sorrow over the incident.
“This news from Magdeburg is deeply shocking. The emergency services are doing everything they can to care for the injured and save lives. All our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Faeser wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, and it remains unclear whether the attack was an act of terrorism or if other motives were involved. As the investigation continues, the city of Magdeburg is reeling from the devastating attack, with many questioning how such violence could strike during a time of celebration.