Emergency services and firefighters are on duty at the Christmas market in Magdeburg on Dec. 20, 2024 in Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg.
Dörthe Hein | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
An “extensive” police operation was underway in a city in eastern Germany after a driver plowed into a crowded Christmas market on Friday, officials said.
A graphic video of the incident posted on X and geolocated to the city of Magdeburg where the incident occurred showed a vehicle speeding through a large group of shoppers. Dozens of people are run over as others scramble to safety. The vehicle speeds straight before making a right turn, away from the view of the camera.
News agency AFP, citing emergency services on the ground, said up to 80 people had been injured in the incident. NBC News was not able to confirm these numbers and it was not known if any had been killed.
“Extensive police operations are currently taking place at the Magdeburg Christmas market. The Christmas market in the city center is closed,” police said in a post on X.
Emergency services are on duty in front of the Christmas market in Magdeburg on Dec. 20, 2024 in Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg.
Heiko Rebsch | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
Magdeburg is west of Berlin and is the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned of a difficult time ahead.
“My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Scholz said in a post on X. “We stand by their side and by the side of the people of Magdeburg. My thanks go to the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours.”
Germany’s vice chancellor Robert Habeck lamented the incident calling it “terrible news” in a post on X.
Police in New York City have increased security at holiday markets as a precaution and in response to the incident in Germany, a senior NYPD official told NBC News on Friday.
Additional resources will be sent to numerous holiday markets and high-profile locations across the city. Threats have been made to some markets overseas, but no specific local threat has been made, the official said.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for details.