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
Britain's Foreign Office says it is "closely monitoring the situation" in Germany after the Magdeburg attack.
"We are in contact with the German authorities following an incident in the city of Magdeburg and are closely monitoring the situation," a spokesperson in London says, adding that "our thoughts are with all those affected".
Footage aired by German broadcaster MDR shows police outside the Christmas market, confronting a man lying on the floor.
Police shout at him to lie down and not move, as they aim their guns towards him.
Behind the suspect, there appears to be a stationary black vehicle.
Germany: Reporter describes 'chaotic situation' after Christmas market attack
We can bring you more details now from an eyewitness who arrived at the scene in Magdeburg shortly after the attack.
"It was a real chaotic situation", Lars Frohmüller, a reporter for German public broadcaster MDR tells BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme.
"We saw blood on the floor, we saw people sitting beside each other and having golden and silver foils around them. And we saw many doctors trying to keep people warm and help them with their injuries," he says.
"Everywhere were ambulances, there were police, there were a lot of firefighters."
Were you at the Christmas market? If you are able to share your experiences you can get in touch in the following ways:
Jessica Parker
BBC News Berlin correspondent
Only last month, Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, talked about the need for "great vigilance" at the nation’s Christmas markets.
However, Faeser said there were no "concrete" indications of danger. She also reportedly pointed to tougher weapons laws in public spaces, which the government pursued in the wake of the Solingen knife attack in which three people died.
In that case, a 26-year-old Syrian man was detained with prosecutors alleging he's suspected of being a member of the Islamic State group.
The Solingen tragedy - which happened in August - further exposed an already fraught debate on asylum and migration in Germany.
One eyewitness who was at the Christmas market has described her despair at not knowing the whereabouts of her boyfriend.
In an interview with Bild newspaper, 32-year-old Nadine says she had her boyfriend Marco in her arms when the car came speeding towards them.
"He was hit and pulled away from my side. It was terrible," the 32-year-old tells the German newspaper. Marco is said to have sustained injuries to his leg and head.
"The uncertainty is unbearable", she adds, as she doesn't yet know which hospital her partner has gone to.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe suspect who drove a car into crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg acted alone, according to Reiner Haseloff, Saxony-Anhalt PM.
A young child is among two people killed, Haseloff told journalists after the incident, and he could not rule out further deaths.
Image source, ReutersWe're hearing some reaction now from French President Emmanuel Macron, who says in a post , externalon X that he's "deeply shocked by the horror that struck the Magdeburg Christmas market".
"France shares the pain of the German people and expresses its full solidarity," he adds.
For context, France itself has witnessed similar attacks in recent years:
Image source, Getty ImagesWe've just heard from German state premier for Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, in the aftermath of a car being driven into crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg.
Here's what we know:
We'll continue to bring you the latest on this story as soon as we know more.
Jessica Parker
BBC News Berlin correspondent
While the authorities reportedly say this appears to be an ‘attack’ – we don’t yet know the details of what has happened and why.
Nevertheless, for many Germans, it will spark some painful memories. On December 19th, 2016 – an Islamist extremist drove a lorry into a Christmas market in Berlin.
12 people were killed while a first aider, who was badly injured, also died years later. In the days after the initial tragedy, the attacker fled to Italy where he was shot dead by police.
The German state premier has just confirmed two people, including a child, were killed in the attack.
He says he can't rule out further deaths due to the severe injuries some people have sustained.
At least 60 people were injured, he adds.
We've just heard from Saxony-Anhalt PM Reiner Haseloff, who provided more information about the suspect.
The man who has been arrested is a 50-year-old originally from Saudi Arabia.
He is said to have arrived in Germany in 2006 and worked as a doctor.
Police say they are not looking for any other suspect at this time.
At least 15 people have been seriously injured after the car drove into the crowd in Magdeburg, city authorities say.
Sixty eight people were hurt in the incident, which they are treating as an attack, and one person has been confirmed dead.
A car, reported to be a black BMW, ploughed 400 metres through the crowd at the Magdeburg Christmas market, according to AFP news agency.
We've already heard reports that at least one person has been killed and dozens are injured - though we're yet to get official confirmation on that.
A suspect has reportedly been arrested and victims are being rushed to hospitals across the region.
We're hearing more reaction from senior politicians in Germany to this evening's events.
German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Green party said it was "terrible news from Magdeburg, where people were spending the advent period together peaceably".
Friedrich Merz, leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, says it is "awful news from Magdeburg" and his thoughts are with victims.
Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, described the images from Magdeburg as "devastating" and said her thoughts were with "those left behind and injured".
"When will this madness end?" she adds.
We're expecting to hear from the minister president of Saxony, Reiner Haseloff, shortly.
We'll bring you all the key lines from the briefing.
Image source, EVNA spokesperson for the city of Magdeburg says all hospitals in the area are preparing for a "mass casualty event", according to Reuters news agency.
We previously reported that between 60 and 80 people may have been injured, according to local rescue authorities.
We still haven't had any official word on deaths or injuries but this is clearly an extremely serious incident.
On the Magdeburg Christmas Market's Instagram page, people have been advised to avoid the area.
"Please let the emergency services do their job and leave the market in an orderly manner," the statement reads.
Image source, ReutersGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz has posted his initial reaction, saying that "reports from Magdeburg lead us to fear the worst".
"My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. We stand by their side and by the side of all Magdeburg residents. My thanks to all the emergency services in these difficult hours."
The incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg appears to be an attack, the regional interior ministry says, according to news agencies.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the incident "raises the worst fears", we'll bring you the latest from Scholz as we get it.