At least five people have died and more than 200 have been injured after a car drove into a Christmas market in Germany, the country’s chancellor has said.
The BMW ploughed into crowds shopping at the market in the city of Magdeburg on Friday evening. One of the casualties is believed to have been a young child.
Minister says suspect was ‘Islamophobic’; follow Germany latest
Police said they arrested the suspect at the scene, describing him as a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia who arrived in Germany in 2006.
He is a practising doctor and specialist in psychiatry, and was living in Bernburg, around 25 miles south of Magdeburg, they added.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser said it is “clear to see” he had Islamophobic views, speaking to reporters at the scene on Saturday.
Flowers left near the scene. Pic: Reuters
Read more
What we know about attack so far
At a news conference there on Saturday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed the number of those killed and injured and offered his sympathies to their families.
He described it as an “awful crime” and “terrible tragedy”, adding: “I’m here as the chancellor of Germany. We are here to stand together. We have to stand together. We have to show our solidarity with the families of the victims.
“Thank you to all those who helped and my sympathy and solidarity goes to all family members of the victims and to the city of Magdeburg who is mourning.”
A vigil is being held at the city’s cathedral on Saturday evening, he added.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Scholz visits scene of Magdeburg attack
Saxony-Anhalt state premier Reiner Haseloff spoke before Mr Scholz. He said in a previous statement on Friday: “As things stand, he is a lone perpetrator, so that as far as we know there is no further danger to the city.
“Every human life that has fallen victim to this attack is a terrible tragedy and one human life too many.”
A city spokesman said the initial assessment is one of a deliberate attack, with all hospitals in the nearby city of Halle prepared for a mass casualty event.
Broadcaster MDR said police blocked off the area as there was a suspicion of explosives in the car used by the suspect. A clear motive has not yet been established.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
What we know about driver at Christmas market
Germany has a long tradition of Christmas markets – a concept widely adopted across the rest of Europe and the world.
The country’s interior minister Nancy Faeser said last month there were no concrete signs of a danger to Christmas markets this year, but added it was wise to be vigilant.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
On 19 December 2016, an Islamic extremist drove a car into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 13 people and injuring dozens more.
Magdeburg, which is west of Berlin, is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt and has a population of about 240,000.