Germany has once again been hit by a car attack at a Christmas market. The attack took place on Friday evening local time in Magdeburg, the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Two people were killed and 68 injured.
People injured in the Christmas market attack are being carried away. Magdeburg was deserted after the attack.
German police have detained a Saudi national after the attack. Police say he had been living in Germany since 2006. He had recently worked as a doctor in Bernburg. He is 50 years old. AFP reported, citing several German media outlets, that the suspected attacker was named Taleb A. He is a psychiatrist. Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia condemned the attack. The country's Foreign Ministry made the condemnation in a statement.
The Christmas market in Magdeburg was packed yesterday evening. Shortly after 7pm, a driver drove his car through a crowd of people for about 400 metres. After that, Christmas markets in various cities in Germany were closed due to panic.
Police also said they have no information on whether the attacker is a militant or not, but the investigation is ongoing.
Magdeburg police cordoned off the area after the attack, as the car was suspected of containing explosives, according to police information.
On December 19, 2016, a Tunisian man drove a car into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people on the spot. Another person later died from his injuries. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.
"I am deeply shocked. I never imagined that something like this would happen in the city of Magdeburg," said Simone Borris, mayor of the city of Magdeburg.
Gerhard Feiz, the Catholic bishop of the city of Magdeburg, expressed his disappointment and called the attack "horrific."
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the attack and said he would travel to the city of Magdeburg on Sunday.