Car Tears Through Crowd in Magdeburg Germany Killing Five

What Happened?

A car tore through a crowd gathered at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany killing at least five and injuring over a hundred people.

German authorities say they believe the attack was an intentional act, committed by a fifty-year-old doctor who was born in Saudi Arabia but who immigrated to Germany in 2006.

Nancy Faeser, Germany’s interior minister, who has overall responsibility for public safety, issued the following statement: ‘The shocking act in Magdeburg a few days before Christmas hits us in the heart. We continue to fear for the lives of the seriously injured and mourn the people who were torn from life by this terrible act.’

Why it Matters

Christmas market crowds have been targeted in Germany before, most recently in 2016.

In that incident, a man drove truck through a crowd gathered at a Christmas market in Berlin, and the Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Since that attack, police and public safety officials across Germany have instituted additional security measures specifically for Christmas markets, including barriers to keep traffic away from pedestrians.

How the driver of the Magdeburg attack managed to get past security measures remains unknown but the attack is currently under investigation by Germany authorities.

German authorities presently believe the Magdeburg attack to be an isolated incident and not part of a broader terrorist plot to strike additional targets.

The exact motive also remains unknown but the driver of the car which struck pedestrians at the Magdeburg Christmas market has been arrested and is being interrogated by German police.

For its part Saudi Arabia condemned the attack and stated they had previously attempted to extradite the driver, though Saudi officials did not specify for what reason.

How it Affects You

The response from Germany’s government to this attack is quite different from the past. In 2016, according to the New York Times ‘Ms. Merkel and other officials have emphasized that they did not want the attack to jeopardize Germany’s commitment to a free and open society, and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier reaffirmed that idea on Wednesday. We want to uphold this way of life, and not let it be destroyed by anyone, not even whoever was responsible for what happened here.’

But in 2024 Germany’s AfD party has called for protests and for stricter security measures to be implemented immediately following the Magdeburg attack. Over the past decade many refugees from the Middle East fled to Europe, and many of those were granted asylum by the German government.

Germany’s attitude towards refugees has generally been welcoming, but this attack and the response to it indicate many German citizens and elected officials may be reconsidering their countries policies towards refugees and immigrants.