A woman attending the Christmas market in Magdeburg recounted a harrowing experience as a car sped towards her and her boyfriend. “He was hit and pulled away from my side. It was terrible,” shared Nadine, 32, highlighting the chaos that unfolded.
Video footage captured the moment a black vehicle drove into a crowd at high speed, continuing its path for hundreds of meters. Reports indicate that Nadine’s boyfriend suffered injuries to his leg and head.
Another witness, Gianni Warzecha, described the scene as alarming. While enjoying Christmas music with family, he recalled hearing “a rumbling and the sound of shattered glass.” He observed people panicking and injured individuals on the ground, including children, as he rushed to provide first aid.
Emergency response took time, with Warzecha noting the critical role of bystanders in administering help until paramedics arrived. “Most of the first aid was done by people there,” he stated.
Lars Frohmüller, a journalist on the scene, depicted a chaotic environment filled with ambulances and police. “We saw blood on the floor, and many doctors trying to keep the injured warm,” he reported. “It’s a shocking experience for everyone here in Magdeburg and Saxony-Anhalt.”
Tobias Rausch, a local politician, voiced his fear as he heard the car approach. “People were screaming. It all happened in a fraction of a second,” he recalled. After the incident, video footage showed police detaining a suspect and local officials praised community members for providing essential first aid before emergency services arrived.
Heike Janke was at the Christmas market shortly before the attack.
Heike Janke, a Magdeburg resident, reflected on her visit to the market just an hour before the attack. “We could have been hit,” she commented while lighting a candle for the victims. Many locals gathered to pay their respects, bringing flowers and candles to a nearby church.
Corinna Pagels, a community member involved in counseling services, emphasized the need for healing after the tragedy. “We need to process these events. Thankfully, we have a strong network to support rescue workers and aid in the aftermath,” she said.
