Two confirmed dead and dozens wounded as car drives into German Christmas market

Earlier this evening, at around 19:04, a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. According to the police, at least two are confirmed dead, including a small child. Details about further casualties have not been confirmed yet, however, there are reports of several injured.

The suspect has been detained by police. On X, the Magdeburg police department have confirmed they believe the suspect being a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia. German outlet Der Spiegel reported earlier that the suspect has been in Germany since March 2006, with asylum having been granted ten years later in July 2016.

Florian Flade, national security reporter for WRD Investigativ and SZ Investigativ posted on X that the suspect "was not previously known to security authorities as an Islamist. On the contrary, he was recognised as a political refugee who had renounced Islam and turned his back on the Saudi Arabian royal family. He worked as a doctor in Saxony-Anhalt." The police are currently investigating the motive.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser will travel to Magdeburg on Saturday. In an earlier statement, Faeser has confirmed that the federal police will be assisting the investigation.