German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised an investigation after a car drove into crowds at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, killing at least five people, including a nine-year-old child
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier joined the families of the victims and emergency respondents at a memorial service at Magdeburg Cathedral
City officials say the attack has left more than 200 people injured
The suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist, holds "Islamophobic" views, according to Germany's interior minister
The incident could prompt new questions about Germany's security architecture, says the BBC's Berlin correspondent, Jessica Parker
Watch: Germany grapples with another Christmas market attack
Image source, ReutersGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to visit Magdeburg on Saturday morning at 11:00 local time (10:00 GMT).
We anticipate a press statement from Scholz at 11:45 local (10:45 GMT) and will keep you updated with the latest from his remarks, so stay with us.
Images are coming in from Magdeburg this morning, capturing the aftermath of Friday night's attack.
The once-busy Christmas markets now have their shutters down, with police cordons surrounding the area.
Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
Image source, ReutersPolice in Magdeburg are appealing for witnesses to come forward this morning with any information about the attack.
In a post on X, police have called for reports, photos and videos of the events last night to be sent through to an information portal, external established about the incident.
A help line for people looking for information about their relatives, external has also been set up.
Meanwhile, city officials are advising residents to avoid the area of the attack.
In a post on X, the official account for the city of Magdeburg says the "entire area" around the market is cordoned off.
Image source, EPASir Keir Starmer, Britain's prime minister, says he is "horrified by the atrocious attack in Magdeburg".
"My thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected," he wrote in a post on X on Friday night.
"We stand with the people of Germany."
BBC correspondent Damien McGuinness is in Magdeburg this morning. He tells our colleagues on the news channel that it's a "desolate scene" in front of the area where the car drove into the market.
"The Christmas lights are still twinkling, but all the stands... are all cordoned off," he says.
The scene is "still being analysed to find out what exactly happened and why", he says.
The market is "surrounded by concrete blocks". That's a common feature at Christmas markets in Germany since the attack in 2017 in which 12 people were killed, McGuinness adds.
Since then, security has been high at markets, he says. But at "this very spot, there is a gap which is wide enough for pedestrians to go through but tragically wide enough for a car to go into the Christmas market."
As the sun slowly rises in Magdeburg after last night's attack, things are quiet around the area of the incident.
A live feed of the area that we're watching shows cars rolling by. Police tape covers the entrances of the Christmas market.
Police vans and cars are dotted around in front of Christmas lights, as officers guard the scene closely.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, EPAIf you're just joining us this morning, we're following news from Magdeburg, Germany, where a vehicle was driven into a crowd of people at a Christmas Market.
Here's what you need to know:
Stick with us for more updates.
Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesSimone Borris was visibly tearful when she spoke to reporters
A memorial service will be held in Magdeburg's cathedral at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Saturday, the city mayor says.
Simone Borris is quoted by Germany's public broadcaster DW as saying a memorial site has also been set up at St John's Church, close to the attack site.
Borris, who was visibly tearful, told journalists: "We will need a long time to grieve. We will deal with all of this comprehensively."
Planned cultural events, including theatrical productions, will be cancelled for the next few days, DW adds.
The US is "horrified by the attack" in Magdeburg, state department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
"We send our condolences to those affected and stand by our friend and Ally Germany," he posted on X., external
Jessica Parker
BBC News
Image source, EPAThe Christmas market was bustling with people when a car ploughed through the crowd for at least 400 metres (1,312ft).
Footage then emerged of armed police confronting and arresting a man who can be seen lying on the ground by a stationary vehicle on a road in Magdeburg city centre.
A state official has said the suspect is a 50-year-old doctor who’s originally from Saudi Arabia - but first came to Germany in 2006. Most recently, he’d been working in a town about 25 miles (40km) away.
According to some German news reports, the suspect was not known to authorities as an Islamist extremist, while social media and posts online appear to suggest he had been critical of Islam.
Investigators have not publicly outlined a potential motive but say they believe, for the moment, that the alleged perpetrator acted alone.
Germany: Reporter describes 'chaotic situation' after Christmas market attack
A woman who was with her boyfriend at the Christmas market in Magdeburg has told local media about seeing the car used in the attack come speeding towards them.
"He was hit and pulled away from my side. It was terrible," 32-year-old Nadine told the Bild newspaper.
The boyfriend is said to have sustained injuries to his leg and head.
So far two people - a toddler and an adult - are known to have been killed in the attack. Some 68 people were injured, 15 of them seriously.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned the "brutal and cowardly act" in Magdeburg.
In a statement on X, the German politcian said that her thoughts were "with the victims".
"My condolences go out to the family and friends, my thanks to the police and rescue workers," she said. "This act of violence must be investigated and severely punished."
Image source, ReutersForensic experts examine the vehicle involved in Friday's attack
While the local authorities say they believe the suspect acted alone, a counter-terrorism expert believes it is too early to rule out the involvement of a wider network.
"I think the announcement is giving the wrong impression," Hans-Jakob Schindler, a senior director at the Counter Extremism Project at the International Center for Counter-Terrorism think tank, told Germany's public broadcaster DW, external.
"In the car there was only this one individual, and it was important [for the police] to highlight that so there was not a panic after the attack that there were other perpetrators in the town."
Schindler said reports of a suspicious bag also being found in the car could point to the suspect having had support. However, both scenarios remained plausible.
"Obviously, everything is possible to do by yourself, you can rent a car by yourself, you can buy gas canisters by yourself, you can build an explosive device by yourself," he added.
"But all these things in combination give the possibility of a wider support network, who were not in the car but helped the man prepare, and that is really important to determine."
This isn't the first time people have been killed by a vehicle at Christmas market in Germany.
Eight years ago, a failed asylum seeker with Islamist links crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.
Anis Amri had links to the self-styled Islamic State (IS) group, and went on the run after the attack.
He was later shot dead by police in Milan who had asked him for ID.
Image source, AFPAnis Amri
As we've been reporting, the suspect is believed to be a Saudi doctor permanently resident in Germany.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed "solidarity with the German people and the families of the victims" following Friday's incident in Magdeburg.
In a brief statement on X, external, its foreign ministry also condemned the attack.
Image source, Getty ImagesAs the incident at Magdeburg's Christmas market was taking place, the city's football team were playing a fixture away against Fortuna Dusseldorf at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
During the game, the news was relayed to the stadium via a video wall.
The statement describes how a car has driven into a group of people at Magdeburg's Christmas market.
After the game finished, the Magdeburg players united in a line in front of their travelling supporters.
On the club's website, a statement reads: "FCM's thoughts are with those affected by the terrible events at the Magdeburg Christmas market."
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesTamara Zieschang, interior minister for the state of Saxony-Anhalt, has given more details about Friday's attack in Magdeburg:
"This is one of the darkest days for Saxony-Anhalt and also for the state capital Magdeburg. As things stand, we have two fatalities to mourn and a large number of injured.
"The perpetrator has been arrested. He is a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia, who first entered the Federal Republic of Germany in 2006. He had a permanent residence permit and thus a permanent residence permit.
"Most recently he worked as a doctor in Bernburg [40 km; 25 miles from Magdeburg]. According to our current information, he acted alone. There is no information on other perpetrators. Everything else is the subject of further investigations."
David Bamford
BBC News
Image source, ReutersThe Christmas market stands empty after the attack
If you're just joining us, a car has driven into a crowd of shoppers at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg, killing at least two people. More than 60 others were hurt. One of those confirmed dead was a young child.
Social media footage from the scene shows a vehicle hurtling at high speed along a narrow alley between Christmas market stalls, knocking over many people.
Local officials say they suspect it was a deliberate attack.
TV pictures showed a suspect being arrested by police with guns drawn. They say he is a 50-year-old Saudi national who's been working as a doctor in Germany since 2006.
Frank Gardner
Security correspondent
This is not the first incident of its kind to target a Christmas market in Germany.
Yet this evening the market in Magdeburg was woefully under-protected against such an attack. The suspect simply rammed his BMW through the crash barriers and drove into the unsuspecting crowds.
In footage shown on German television armed police can be seen aiming their handguns at the suspect and ordering him to lie on the ground. Some approached and then hastily withdrew, perhaps fearing he might be wearing an explosive suicide vest or able to remotely detonate one concealed nearby.
Previous vehicle rammings of pedestrians in Europe have usually been carried out by young men inspired by al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group.
The suspect in this case is a middle-aged doctor from Saudi Arabia who was not on any terror watchlists. One of the first priorities of this investigation will be to establish a motive.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has joined other world leaders in condemning the attack in Magdeburg.
He says he is "shocked" by what happened at the Christmas market, adding that he's spoken with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to express his solidarity with the victims, their families and all German people.