Until the day
Magdeburg is 1.15, we only know here;
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Five people, including a baby, have died after a car plowed 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.
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More than two hundred people were injured in the attack, with 40 in critical condition.
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Police have arrested a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia who they believe was responsible for the attack, according to the German premier, Reiner Haseloff.
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Chancellor Olav Scholz describes the fatal attack on Magdeburg as a horrible, insane act. He said it is “a quieter and more cheerful place than a Christmas market” where people go with friends and family to have gluhwein (hot iron) and seek some contemplation and joy.
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The state governor of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, described the scene as “a priceless event”. Haselhof says that the scale of the attack is much greater than previously thought, with the death toll rising and their scale being much greater than the estimates given yesterday.
Key events
Scholz: the attack of the injured body overcomes the attack
Kate Connolly
We have gathered a little from Scholzius, who praises all those who immediately helped those who were injured in the attack.
It is remarkable how quickly the police, robbery and fire emergency services got here, how many people came from different places to help here in a concrete and live way.
“To move the conversation,” he said he had with some of the emergency services that had prevented the situation from getting worse through their professionalism and speed.
He then said that it had a devastating effect on the lives of many involved in it, and that the effects on the aid workers were immense.
They will fight with him. That is why we have already said that we are asking everywhere in Germany from those who can do this task … so that no one is left alone.
Of course, the same reason is even more for the injured and their relatives, who now need help in hospitals, but they also need to be supported because of the terrible disaster in which their lives have been cut off.
“Innocent victims, I will say, act insanity.”
Here are some recent photos from Magdeburg:
Key points so far from Scholz’s press conference
Kate Connolly
Here are some of the main points made by Olaf Scholz when he went to the Magdeburg Christmas market scene with the press.
markets at Christmas;
There is no quieter and happier place than a Christmas market. People gather a few days before Christmas … to be together in contemplation, but also to celebrate. To drink mulled wine, very strong.
In the attack;
What a terrible deed to injure and kill so many people there with such ferocity. We now know of over 200 who have been injured. Five have died so far, an incredible number, almost 40 have been so seriously injured that we are very worried about them.
About the reaction:
That is why this event is terrible, tragic… We must all express our compassion for our relatives, for the injured, for the city of Magdeburg. For this reason, as chancellor, I want to confirm to you the solidarity of the whole country and of everyone who bears responsibility in this matter. This goes deep to the heart and we want and must stand here.
Until the day
Magdeburg is 1.15, we only know here;
-
Five people, including a child, have died after a car plowed 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.
-
More than two hundred people were injured in the attack, with 40 in critical condition.
-
Police have arrested a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia who they believe was responsible for the attack, according to the German premier, Reiner Haseloff.
-
Chancellor Olav Scholz describes the fatal attack on Magdeburg as a horrible, insane act. He said it is “a quieter and more cheerful place than a Christmas market” where people go with friends and family to have gluhwein (hot iron) and seek some contemplation and joy.
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The state governor of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, described the scene as “a priceless event”. Haselhof says the scale of the attack is much greater than previously thought, with the death toll rising and their scale much greater than the estimates given yesterday.
Kate Connolly
Olavus Scholz called for solidarity in this difficult time;
It is important to me that we stay together as a village, that hatred does not determine how we live together.
Kate Connolly
While many of the Christmas lights in Magdeburg’s city center are now turned off, the big wheel in the funfair near the market stands static on the skyline, and the market stalls are closed, the cymbals from the church chime in. noon still rings with the melody of the favorite German Christmas carol, ‘Frohliche Weihnacht Überall’ or ‘Merry Christmas everywhere’.
The opening line is: “Merry Christmas! Everywhere rejoicing resounds through the air.’
A painful reminder of the celebrations that the Magdeburgers had prepared hours ago and their joy is now shaken by the massacre that will overshadow Christmas throughout the country.
As one leading Magdeburg official said yesterday: “Merry Christmas in Magdeburg.”
Scholz: The attack was a terrible, crazy act
Kate Connolly
Chancellor Olav Scholz describes the fatal attack on Magdeburg as a horrible, insane act.
He said it is “a quieter and more cheerful place than a Christmas market” where people go with friends and family to have gluhwein (hot iron) and seek some contemplation and joy.
“What a terrible deed to hurt and kill so many people there with such brutality.”
Earlier he and officers from his command had laid flowers to attack the site.
Scholz: 40 people were injured so badly that we are very worried
Kate Connolly
Scholz just addressed the press in the market square.
He said he was informed of the scale of the attack and was shocked.
“About 40 people were injured so badly that we are very worried about them,” he said.
Kate Connolly
The state governor of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, described the scene as “a priceless event”.
Haselhof says the scale of the attack was much greater than he had previously thought, with a death toll of five and the extent of those injured much greater than estimates given last night.
He says the attack is now part of Magdeburg’s history and will shape the city’s identity. He also says a huge scale attack for the whole country.
He thanked the emergency workers, without whose work the situation could have been much worse, he said.
He says that this evening the cathedral of Magdeburg will hold a ceremony to summon the citizens of Magdeburg.
“Security,” he said, “will be something about which we need to have much clearer discussions in the future, but that time is not now.”
He adds: Now is the time for mourning. Protecting Germany’s freedom and democracy remains a clear goal that is linked to the mourning process. Let’s try to overcome this together.”
Scholz in Magdeburg as a death toll rises to five
Kate Connolly
Olavi Scholz, the German chancellor, arrived in Magdeburg within the past hour with his interior minister, Nancy Faeser.
Together with the leader of the state of Saxony Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, all dressed in black, they walked silently through the Christmas market along the road, where the attacker plowed a car through the crowd of five, killing and injuring 205; 41 their criticism.
They were accompanied by environment minister Steffi Lemke and transport minister Volker Wissing. Scholz is about to speak to the press waiting in the street.
The dead increase to five
Kate Connolly
The death toll has now risen to five people, according to Spiegel.
Olavi Scholz, the German chancellor, is in Magdeburg with interior minister Nancy Faeser.
Journalists gathered in the market square where the attack took place yesterday, waiting for Scholz to give a press conference.
The square is surrounded by police from the BKA or the Federal Criminal Police who closely guard the square, including the alleys leading to it.
Journalists are trained not to learn.
Kate Connolly
The number of injured now stands at 205.with 41 in doubtful cases.