After the attack on the Christmas market, the police arrested a man from Saudi Arabia. More than 60 people are injured and at least two have been killed – including a small child. All developments in the live ticker.
A driver drove into a group of people at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. The authorities assume that more than 60 people are injured and at least two people are dead. According to WELT information, a man from Saudi Arabia was arrested.
All developments in the live ticker:
1:23 a.m. – “There is no good Islam”: FAZ interviewed the suspected assassin
The “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (FAZ) published an interview with the alleged perpetrator from Magdeburg in 2019. “I am the most aggressive critic of Islam in history,” says Taleb Al Abdulmohsen. In the conversation he is introduced to his work as an escape aider from Saudi Arabia. “There is no such thing as good Islam,” he says.
He also talks about a certain isolation: “Even after I applied for asylum, I noticed that many of the Muslim asylum seekers I help on a voluntary basis in Germany think I'm a bad person because I no longer believe.”
He also commented on his asylum application: “They wanted to 'slaughter' me if I returned to Saudi Arabia.” I also decided to apply for asylum in Germany. It wouldn't have made sense to risk having to return and then being killed.
1:07 a.m. – Saudi Arabia assures solidarity with Germany
Saudi Arabia, the home country of the suspected Magdeburg perpetrator, has declared its solidarity with Germany. According to current knowledge, the perpetrator is an opponent of the Saudi government and has therefore fled his country. The government in Riyadh expressed “its solidarity with the German people and the families of the victims” and reiterated its “rejection of violence,” the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry told X.
12:36 a.m. – Police: No explosive device discovered in the vehicle
No explosive device was found in the suspected perpetrator's vehicle, reports MDR, citing the police. The area around the car had previously been largely closed.
Friday, December 20th:
11:49 p.m. – Commemoration planned in Magdeburg Cathedral
There will be a memorial hour in Magdeburg Cathedral on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. We want to give those affected, relatives and all other citizens an opportunity to mourn, said Magdeburg Mayor Simone Borris in tears in front of journalists. “We will need a long time to mourn,” she said, visibly stunned. “We will work through everything comprehensively.”
11:19 p.m. – Police ask for photos and videos
The police are looking for clues, photos and videos surrounding the fatal attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market. Witnesses could upload these to the information portal of the Saxony-Anhalt police, informed the Magdeburg police station. A citizen telephone was also switched on. This can be reached at number 0391/5461690, it said.
10:55 p.m. – Macron “deeply shocked” by attack in Magdeburg
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences to the victims after the alleged attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market. Macron wrote on pain of the German people and expresses its full solidarity,” he explained.
10:38 p.m. – Police clear Erfurt Christmas market
The police have cleared the Christmas market in Erfurt. This was purely a precautionary measure, according to an inquiry from the Erfurt state police station. There is no concrete threat situation. The police could not say how many people were on Cathedral Square on Friday evening. According to the Interior Ministry, the city as the organizer suggested this step.
Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) announced on
10:27 p.m. – Federal President Steinmeier thanks emergency services in Magdeburg
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked the emergency services during the suspected attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market. “The anticipation of a peaceful Christmas was suddenly interrupted by the reports from Magdeburg,” said Steinmeier, according to the statement. “Not all of the background to the terrible act has yet been clarified. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I would like to thank all the rescue workers for their efforts.”
10:09 p.m. – Haseloff: At least two dead in Magdeburg
At least two people, an adult and a small child, were killed in the attack. This was said by Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff. There are at least 60 injured, including many seriously injured.
9:47 p.m. – Police: Car drove at least 400 meters across the market
According to police, it is unclear whether it was a lone perpetrator. A suspect was arrested, the MDR quoted a spokesman as saying. The perpetrator drove “at least 400 meters over the Christmas market”. The car can still be found on site.
9:31 p.m. – Scholz horrified by the alleged attack in Magdeburg
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) reacted to the attack with horror. “The reports from Magdeburg suggest something bad,” Scholz wrote on
9:16 p.m. – Magdeburg suspect is said to come from Saudi Arabia
After the attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, initial information about the suspect is available. As WELT learned from security circles, the perpetrator is said to be a man from Saudi Arabia born in 1974.
According to this, he had rented a car before the crime and then drove it to the Christmas market. According to WELT information, a piece of luggage was found on the passenger seat. It is unclear whether there might be an explosive device inside; The authorities have not yet ruled out this scenario. The police also check whether the driver is alone or whether there may be accomplices or accomplices.
9:11 p.m. – Magdeburg University Hospital is preparing for many injured people
The first ten to 20 patients are being treated at the Magdeburg University Hospital. This was announced by a spokesman. However, they are preparing for significantly more injuries. “We are currently upgrading,” said the spokesman for the university hospital. “Intensive care beds are ready.”
8:50 p.m. – Emergency services report 60 to 80 injured
Dozens of people were injured in an incident involving a car at the Magdeburg Christmas market on Friday evening. There are “60 to 80 injured,” said the rescue service control center in Magdeburg in response to an AFP request. The MDR, citing the police, reports at least one death.
8:32 p.m. – Authorities assume an attack in Magdeburg
Government spokesman Matthias Schuppe spoke to WELT about an attack. According to city spokesman Michael Reif, the initial situation is an “attack on the Christmas market”.
8:07 p.m. – Numerous rescue workers on duty at the Magdeburg Christmas market
Numerous rescue workers are on duty around the Christmas market in Magdeburg. This is what dpa reporters report from on site. The latest can be seen on videos on social networks.
7:51 p.m. – Car drives into a crowd at the Magdeburg Christmas market
A driver drove into a group of people at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. He was arrested. There was initially no information on deaths or injuries.
dpa/AFP/Reuters/gub
