MAGDEBURG, Germany — A tragic act of violence transformed a festive Christmas market into a scene of horror Friday evening, leaving five dead and 200 injured in this eastern German city, authorities reported Saturday.
The alleged perpetrator, a 50-year-old Saudi-born doctor, drove his black BMW into a crowded market, killing a 9-year-old child and four adults in what prosecutors are investigating as a potential targeted attack.
“There is no more peaceful and cheerful place than a Christmas market,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, condemning the “terrible act” that brutally disrupted a cherished holiday tradition.
Investigators are exploring multiple potential motives, including the suspect’s apparent dissatisfaction with Germany’s refugee policies. Social media posts suggest the doctor, who immigrated in 2006, had been critical of Islam and vocal about European immigration issues.
Magdeburg, a city of 240,000 residents, marked the tragedy with somber church bell tolls at precisely 7:04 p.m. — the moment of the attack. The incident has prompted increased security measures and memorial services across Germany.
The attack echoes previous terrorist incidents in the country, including a 2016 Christmas market truck attack in Berlin that killed 13 people. This latest tragedy has reignited discussions about public safety and potential extremist threats.
As the community mourns, questions remain about the suspect’s motivations and the circumstances leading to this devastating act of violence.
The investigation is ongoing.
