Dark BMW reportedly drove into crowd in eastern German town of Magdeburg in what is being described as a terror attack. Scores of people were injured and at least two people, including a small child, were killed on Friday after a car ploughed into a crowd of people at a Christmas market in the eastern German town of Magdeburg, in what local officials are describing as a terror attack.
At least 68 other people were injured, including 15 who were left in a critical state, according to the city government. In the attack, a black BMW drove straight into the crowd at the Christmas market, travelling at speed for metres in the direction of the town hall, according to eyewitnesses cited by the broadcaster.
Videos posted on social media showed a dark-coloured car driving into the crowds at high speed. Several media outlets showed the videos in their coverage, but the authenticity of the footage has yet to be officially confirmed. Emergency workers were seen treating victims on the ground at the market, surrounded by blood. Makeshift tents were erected at the site.
Witnesses reported hearing cries and screams. The driver of the car was immediately arrested, and later identified as Taleb A. Haseloff said the man had been living in Germany since The suspect, a consultant for psychiatry and psychotherapy, was recognised as a refugee in Footage from the scene showed the alleged perpetrator lying on the ground, his head raised, next to a badly damaged black car.
A policeman metres from him is pointing a drawn weapon in his direction as passersby look on in shock. The suspect rented the car shortly before the attack, according to reports citing a security source, and was not known to authorities as having an Islamist background. She told the paper she had just managed to fling herself and her child out of the path of the vehicle. After the incident, police cleared an area surrounding the vehicle to investigate a possible explosive device, local broadcaster MDR reported.
