'At least 11 dead' and over 60 injured after car crashes into crowd and runs over visitors at German Christmas market as police search for explosives

A suspect driving a dark BMW crashed through barriers protecting the market and drove straight into shoppers.

Saxony-Anhalt's Prime Minister Reiner Erich Haseloff has confirmed that there were at least two deaths including a small child, although there are some reports 11 people have died.

Police have cordoned off the city centre because an explosive device is believed to be inside the suspect’s vehicle, German public broadcaster MDR said, citing police reports. The vehicle is still at the scene.

Tents have been set up in the area to treat the injured with tram services suspended throughout the city. According to eyewitness reports, the incident began at 7.04pm local time when a BMW is said to have raced into the crowd.

The suspect driving the BMW was reportedly a doctor from Saudi Arabia who had lived in Germany since 2006, local media reports.

Eyewitnesses told local media the vehicle "drove into the fairy tale area of the Magdeburg Christmas market" where there were a lot of families.

The Magdeburg Christmas market is warning people on Instagram to leave the area.

A spokesman said: "Due to current events, we would like to point out that you should avoid the Christmas market. Please let the emergency services do their job and leave the market in an orderly manner!"

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Car drives into crowd at Christmas market in Germany

Magdeburg's football team were playing a match against Fortuna Düsseldorf away while the incident unfolded.

A message was displayed on video wall in the stadium in Düsseldorf about the news during the match for the German second division.

Players from FC Magdeburg stood together with their fans after the match ended in their favour 2-5.

A police spokesman told German media the car drove "at least 400 meters across the Christmas market" into the crowd.

WATCH: The moment a suspect is arrested after the incident

Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed he would be travelling to the city tomorrow.

He wrote on social media: "The reports from Magdeburg suggest something terrible is to come. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

"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."

The Christmas market in Erfurt was also evacuated as a precautionary measure following the incidents in Magdeburg.

Interior Minister Georg Maier explained that this measure was taken at the request of the organiser. However, there were no indications of a specific danger.

Leader of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel described the images from Magdeburg as Alice Weidel, "devastating" and said her thoughts were with "those left behind and injured" adding "When will this madness end?"

French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X: "Deeply shocked by the horror that struck the Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany this evening. My thoughts are with the victims, the injured, and their loved ones and families. France shares the pain of the German people and expresses its full solidarity."

US Vice-President elect JD Vance said: "Our prayers go to the people affected by this terrible attack on a Christmas market in Germany. What a ghastly attack so close to Christmas."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: "We have allowed people who hate us and our values into Europe. Christmas is their target. Any guesses why?"