German Christmas market attack death toll rises to six


FILE PHOTO: A closed stall with signs of damage stands at the 'Alter Markt' Christmas market, where a man drove a car into the crowd through an emergency exit route on Friday evening, in Magdeburg, Germany December 22, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - A 52-year-old woman has died in hospital from injuries sustained after a man drove his car into a German Christmas market last month, a spokesperson for the local public prosecutor's office said on Monday, bringing the death toll from the attack to six.

The attack on Dec. 20 in the central city of Magdeburg that also left scores injured shocked the country and stirred up tensions over the charged issue of immigration.

Officials have described the suspect as a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia with a history of anti-Islamic rhetoric and a sympathy for the far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Authorities said the suspected attacker used emergency exit points to drive onto the grounds of the Christmas market, where he picked up speed and ploughed into the crowds, hitting more than 200 people in a three-minute attack. He was arrested at the scene.

(Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Friederike Heine)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In World

Vance warns Iran not to "play us" as he leaves for talks
Mali backs Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara
Dubai limits foreign flights until May 31, letters show, hitting Indian airlines hardest
Exclusive-Macron seeks to draw Trump to G7 with post-summit invite to Versailles
Kremlin says Putin envoy's US visit does not mean Ukraine talks have resumed
Factbox-Details of U.S. troops based in Europe as Trump mulls removing some
Eswatini court rules first Trump deportees in jail have right to lawyer
Artemis II astronauts hurtle home from moon toward splashdown
Hungarian opposition leads PM Orban's Fidesz, poll shows
Ukraine in talks with Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain on security cooperation, Zelenskiy says

Others Also Read