Attack on Christmas market: sixth fatality after attack in Magdeburg

There is a sixth death after the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market. A 52-year-old woman died of her injuries in hospital, a spokesman for the Naumburg Public Prosecutor’s Office told the German Press Agency. She died as a result of the attack.

Shortly before Christmas, a 50-year-old man drove a car through the Magdeburg Christmas market. So far six people have died, a nine-year-old boy and five women between the ages of 45 and 75. There were also almost 300 injured.

Man is in custody

The man from Saudi Arabia is in custody. Before the crime, he was repeatedly in contact with the authorities during investigations. Between April 2023 and October 2024 he appeared in seven investigations. He was the complainant in five cases and the accused in two cases.

The question of the 50-year-old’s guilt is now becoming the focus of the investigation. According to the Naumburg Public Prosecutor’s Office, an expert report will be commissioned to determine whether and how he is mentally ill.

Driven between the traffic lights and the concrete block barrier

It is also about the police operational concept and the security concept of the Christmas market. The man had driven between a pedestrian traffic light and a concrete block barrier. According to the Ministry of the Interior in Magdeburg, the distance between the traffic light and the barrier on both sides of the traffic light was around six meters. The organizer’s stand plan provided for a total passage width of four meters.

Furthermore, it should be examined why escape and rescue routes were not secured with steel chains. Why a police vehicle was parked a few meters away from a designated location is also being investigated.