A festive evening turned tragic in the German city of Magdeburg when a car was driven into crowds at a Christmas market, killing two people and leaving dozens more injured. The incident, which occurred yesterday evening, has drawn swift condemnation from Irish and German leaders alike.
According to The Journal, emergency services reported that among those injured, 15 people were seriously hurt, 37 suffered moderate injuries, and 16 had minor injuries. The driver, identified as a Saudi Arabian doctor who has been living in Germany since 2006, was quickly arrested at the scene.
Irish leaders expressed their shock and solidarity with the victims. Taoiseach Simon Harris described the attack as “shocking and despicable,” while Tánaiste Micheál Martin urged Irish citizens in the area to follow local authorities’ guidance.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to visit the scene this morning, having stated that “the reports from Magdeburg raise the worst fears.” The incident has sparked particular concern as it echoes a similar attack at a Berlin Christmas market in 2016, where 13 people were killed by an Islamic extremist.
Saxony-Anhalt governor Reiner Haseloff confirmed that the perpetrator acted alone and there is no ongoing threat to the city of Magdeburg, which is home to about 240,000 people.
The attack comes despite recent assurances from German interior minister Nancy Faeser that there were no specific threats to Christmas markets this year, though she had advised continued vigilance.
Emergency services continue to work at the scene, with numerous ambulances and fire engines attending to the injured and transporting them to local hospitals.