Death Toll from German Christmas Market Car-Ramming Rises to Four

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

he death toll from a car-ramming at a German Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg has risen to four, according to German newspaper Bild. The attack, which took place on Friday evening, involved a 50-year-old Saudi man who is now under arrest on suspicion of plowing his vehicle into the crowd.

The incident occurred amid heightened discussions around security and migration in Germany, where election campaigns are intensifying, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gaining traction.

Authorities initially reported at least two fatalities, but the toll has since climbed, with Bild indicating that 41 people are critically injured, 86 are receiving hospital treatment for serious injuries, and another 78 have sustained minor injuries. Local police have not yet released official statements on the casualty figures.

Investigation Underway

German authorities are investigating the suspect, identified in media reports as Taleb A., a Saudi doctor who has lived in Germany for almost two decades. Police searched his home overnight, though the exact motive for the attack remains unclear. The suspect has not been officially named by the police.

Der Spiegel also reported that the suspect had sympathized with the far-right AfD party, although no source for this information was provided. German domestic intelligence services have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

A Harrowing Scene

Among the victims of the attack was a child, who tragically lost their life when the driver rammed the car into the crowd. Andrea Reis, who was present at the market with her daughter, described the horror of the scene. "Children screaming, crying for mama. You can't forget that," she tearfully recalled.

Reis, who had narrowly avoided being in the path of the car, shared how she and her daughter had decided to keep walking instead of stopping to buy food. "Had we stayed where we were, we would have been in the car's path," she said.

Political Reactions

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to visit Magdeburg later today to address the incident. His Social Democrats (SPD) are currently trailing the AfD and the conservative opposition in opinion polls, especially with snap elections scheduled for February 23.

The AfD has been vocal in its calls for stricter immigration controls, and party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla condemned the attack, which occurred during the peaceful pre-Christmas period. "The terrible attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg has shaken us," they stated on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Dirk Wiese, a leading member of Scholz's SPD, cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the attack's motive. "It seems that things are different here than was initially assumed," he told Rheinische Post. Wiese also noted that early reports suggesting an Islamist motive may not be accurate.

A Nation in Shock

As Germany grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event, the shockwaves are being felt across the nation. The attack has raised questions about security measures during the busy holiday season and reignited debates over migration and national security in the lead-up to the February elections.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident, and further updates are expected as the situation unfolds.