Shock at the Christmas market: car drives into a crowd in Magdeburg!

Shock at the Christmas market: car drives into a crowd in Magdeburg!

Last night, a gruesome attack rocked the Christmas market in Magdeburg when a black SUV plowed into a group of people. The incident occurred on Friday evening, December 20, and left at least two dead and about 60 injured, many seriously, multiple reports confirm. Rostock's mayor Eva-Maria Kröger was affected and expressed her sympathy for the victims and their relatives in a statement. “We very much hope that the injured will recover quickly,” she said, while referring to the relief measures and the solidarity of Magdeburg’s citizens. Amid the shock, she appealed not to speculate about the reasons behind the crime, as it was still unclear. The security situation at the Rostock Christmas market remains stable, as there is a well-developed security concept that also protects against possible dangers from vehicles, as the mayor emphasized.

Political reactions and security precautions

The political reaction to the incident was immediate. Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig expressed her horror at the attack and offered her thoughts to the victims and helpers. Other politicians, such as the chairman of the FDP parliamentary group René Domke, also pointed out the need to improve existing security precautions in society. “People expect a state that protects them,” said Domke. The tragedy has raised awareness of the security situation at Christmas markets in Germany, especially after the Erfurt market there was evacuated as a precaution.

The city of Rostock has already taken measures to ensure safety at Christmas markets in the past. Since the attack on Berlin's Breitscheidplatz in 2016, terrorist barriers have been installed there to reduce the risk of an attack. There are currently no known effects due to the incident in Magdeburg for the upcoming days of the Rostock Christmas market, which reassures the organizers. “We have taken additional security measures,” explained wholesale market manager Inga Knospe.

The shocking events in Magdeburg, which occurred at a moment of festive mood, remind us how vulnerable public spaces can be. The community's sympathy and support is particularly important in such difficult times. For more information on this tragic situation, see reports from Northern Courier and Baltic Sea newspaper.