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2024 Magdeburg car attack

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2024 Magdeburg car attack
The moments before the attack
LocationMagdeburg, Germany
Date20 December 2024; 1 day ago (2024-12-20)
7:04 p.m. (CET)
Attack type
Vehicle-ramming attack
Deaths≥2
Injured≥68

On 20 December 2024, a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. At least 2 people were killed and 68 were injured.[1] The driver of the car was subsequently arrested.

Background

The Magdeburg Christmas market in 2019

Magdeburg is the capital of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The city holds an annual Christmas market located near city hall and a large shopping center.[2]

Christmas markets have been targeted by vehicle-ramming attacks;[3] a joint threat assessment of New Year's Eve at Times Square noted that vector "has become a recurring tactic employed by threat actors".[4] Minister of the interior and community Nancy Faeser said in November 2024 that there were no "concrete" threats to Christmas markets,[5][6] but that it was "wise" to maintain vigilance.[6]

The attack occurred a day after the eighth anniversary of a truck attack at a Berlin Christmas market. That attack, perpetrated by the Islamic State, killed twelve people and injured 56 others.[7] Two weeks prior to the attack, an Iraqi man was arrested on suspicion of planning an attack against a Christmas market in Augsburg, Bavaria.[8]

Attack

At 7:04 p.m. CET on 20 December 2024, a driver drove a black BMW rental car,[7] reportedly rented shortly before the attack,[9] into a crowd at high speed at a Christmas market in Magdeburg.[10][11] The car moved at least 400 metres, according to police.[12] The driver of the vehicle was subsequently arrested at the Allee-Center tram station.[13]

A spokesperson from the Saxony-Anhalt state government said it was "probably an attack".[14] A luggage item was discovered in the passenger seat of the vehicle[9] and police cordoned off the area after an explosive device was reportedly discovered inside the vehicle,[15] which was not found there.[16]

Casualties

At least two people—an adult and a child—were killed, according to Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff,[1] and 68 others were injured.[3] The city of Magdeburg stated that at least fifteen people were severely injured, 37 were moderately injured, and sixteen slightly injured.[17] According to local emergency services, 60 to 80 people were injured.[18] At least twenty victims were taken to Magdeburg University Hospital.[7]

Suspect

A suspect who was driving the vehicle was arrested.[19] According to Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff and the state's interior minister Tamara Zieschang, the suspect was a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia[20] based in Bernburg,[21] who worked as a psychologist and psychiatrist.[6][7] He resided in Germany since 2006 on an indefinite residence permit.[21] In July 2016, the suspect was recognized as a refugee.[7]

Aftermath

Magdeburg police urged citizens to stay home.[22] The Christmas market in Erfurt was cleared,[23] but local authorities in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt's largest city, did not heighten security.[24]

Political impact

The Wall Street Journal wrote that the attack could reinvigorate discussions of immigration in Germany ahead of a federal election in 2025.[25]

Responses

Domestic

Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff called the incident a "terrible event" and was on his way to Magdeburg.[7] He also stated that the attacker performed the attack individually.[18]

Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered his condolences[7] and was on his way to Magdeburg with Federal Ministry of the Interior, Nancy Faeser.[6] President Frank-Walter Steinmeier,[26] Olaf Scholz[27] and Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz thanked rescue workers.[28]

International

French president Emmanuel Macron stated that he was "deeply shocked" by the attack.[29] Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, commiserated with the victims of the attack and their families in her statement.[30] Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban offered prayers and condolences for the families of the victims, calling the attack "heinous".[31] Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez spoke with Olaf Scholz to express his solidarity and affection "to the victims, their families and all the German people".[32] President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, said that he was "shaken" by the attack and expressed his condolences to the victims and their families.[33][34]

The New York City Police Department increased security at Christmas markets in response.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Wenzel-Warkentin, Natalia (20 December 2024). "Es gebe mindestens zwei Tote, sagt Ministerpräsident Reiner Haseloff am Abend vor Medienvertretern". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Auto fährt in Menschenmenge auf Magdeburger Weihnachtsmarkt" [Car drives into crowd at Magdeburg Christmas market]. Die Zeit (in German). 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b Schuetze, Christopher (20 December 2024). "Driver Rams Christmas Market in Germany, Injuring Dozens". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  4. ^ Franz, Felix; Shapiro, Emily (20 December 2024). "Car drives into crowd at Christmas market in Germany: Police". ABC News. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Germany's Faeser calls for 'vigilance' at Christmas markets – DW – 11/28/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Connolly, Kate (20 December 2024). "Several killed and scores injured in Germany as car ploughs into crowd at Christmas market". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Autofahrer steuert in Menschenmenge auf Weihnachtsmarkt" [Driver steers into crowd at Christmas market]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  8. ^ Moody, Oliver (20 December 2024). "Germany attack: 11 including toddler feared dead as car ploughs into Christmas market". The Times. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  9. ^ a b Moody, Oliver (20 December 2024). "Germany attack: 11 feared dead and 80 injured as car ploughs into Christmas market". The Times. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  10. ^ "A car has driven into a group of people at a Christmas market in Germany". AP News. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Dozens hurt in car 'attack' on German Christmas market". South China Morning Post. 21 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  12. ^ Ross, Andreas (20 December 2024). "Rettungskräfte sprechen von 60 bis 80 Verletzten in Magdeburg – mindestens ein Toter". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  13. ^ Wenzel-Warkentin, Natalia (20 December 2024). "Der MDR hat ein Video von der Verhaftung des mutmaßlichen Täters veröffentlicht". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  14. ^ Pitel, Laura (20 December 2024). "Car drives into Christmas market in German city of Magdeburg". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  15. ^ Cleave, Iona (20 December 2024). "Magdeburg: Car drives into crowd in Germany Christmas Market 'terror attack'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  16. ^ Staszko, Katarzyna (21 December 2024). "Atak na jarmarku w Magdeburgu. W aucie nie było ładunku wybuchowego". wiadomosci.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  17. ^ Ross, Andreas (20 December 2024). "Nach Angaben der Stadt Magdeburg gibt es nach dem mutmaßlichen Anschlag am Freitagabend 15 Schwerstverletzte, 37 mittelschwer Verletzte und 16 Leichtverletzte". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  18. ^ a b Spivey, Matt (20 December 2024). "Sixty to eighty people injured, reports say". BBC News. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Suspect arrested, German broadcaster reports". BBC News. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  20. ^ Ross, Andreas (20 December 2024). "Nach Informationen der F.A.Z. stammt der mutmaßliche Täter aus Saudi-Arabien". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  21. ^ a b Thaler, Claudia (20 December 2024). "Täter als Arzt aus Bernburg identifiziert". Die Zeit. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  22. ^ Kohler, Sarah (20 December 2024). "Polizei: Menschen in Magdeburg sollen daheim bleiben". Die Zeit. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  23. ^ Kohler, Sarah (20 December 2024). "Weihnachtsmarkt in Erfurt geräumt". Die Zeit. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  24. ^ Geil, Karin (20 December 2024). "Sicherheitsdezernent: Räumen Weihnachtsmarkt nicht". Die Zeit. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  25. ^ Benoit, Bertrand (20 December 2024). "Car Crashes Into German Christmas Market, Leaving at Least Two Dead, Over 60 Wounded". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  26. ^ Eydlin, Alexander (20 December 2024). "Steinmeier dankt Rettungskräften" [Steinmeier thanks rescue]. Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  27. ^ "Tragiczny wieczór w Niemczech. Politycy reagują na zamach w Magdeburgu". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  28. ^ Kohler, Sarah (20 December 2024). "Merz: "Sehr bedrückende Nachrichten"" [Merz: "Very depressing news"]. Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Allemagne : une voiture fonce sur un marché de Noël, au moins deux morts et des dizaines de blessés". France 24 (in French). 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  30. ^ "President Meloni's statement on Magdeburg Christmas market attack". www.governo.it (in Italian). 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  31. ^ "Dramatyczne wieści z Niemiec po zamachu. „Kiedy to szaleństwo się skończy?"". Wprost (in Polish). 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  32. ^ "Sánchez traslada a Scholz su solidaridad por el atropello en un mercado de Navidad alemán". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  33. ^ "Tragiczne wieści z Niemiec. Prezydent Duda: jestem wstrząśnięty | Niezalezna.pl". niezalezna.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  34. ^ KTS (20 December 2024). "Zamach w Magdeburgu. Prezydent Andrzej Duda zabrał głos". wiadomosci.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  35. ^ Planas, Antonio (20 December 2024). "Dozens feared injured after vehicle plows into crowd at Christmas market in Germany". NBC News. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
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