A vehicle collided with a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, a city in eastern Germany, on Friday evening, resulting in at least one fatality and injuring between 60 to 80 individuals. The car, described as a dark BMW, was driven by an individual who was subsequently taken into custody after the incident occurred at 7:04 PM, as reported by unnamed officials from the Saxony-Anhalt government to the dpa news agency.
Emergency services quickly established medical tents on-site to provide immediate assistance to the victims, with reports indicating that several individuals sustained serious injuries. In the chaos that ensued, many attendees were seen fleeing in panic, while video footage captured the distress of children crying amidst groups of people gathered around the injured, attempting to render help.
An eyewitness recounted to the German publication Mitteldeutsche Zeitung that the festive atmosphere of the Christmas market had transformed into what felt like ‘war-like conditions.’ Another observer mentioned that numerous families were present in the ‘fairytale area’ of the market when the vehicle surged into the gathering.
Local authorities announced on X that ‘significant police operations are currently underway,’ with additional updates to follow. The Magdeburg Christmas market, situated at the Old Market next to the Town Hall and near the River Elbe, was shut down by organizers following the tragic event. They have also urged people to vacate the city center. Nearby cities, such as Halle, located approximately 50 miles from Magdeburg, are preparing their hospitals to accommodate the influx of victims.
