Nigeria has extended its condolences to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Germany following a car attack at a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg on Friday.
In a statement released on Saturday, the acting spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said, “The Federal Republic of Nigeria expresses its heartfelt condolences to the Government and People of Germany over the car attack at a crowded Christmas market on Friday, December 20, 2024, in Magdeburg, Germany.”
The tragic incident, which resulted in the deaths of five people and left over 200 injured, is deeply condemnable.
“Our thoughts are with the Government of Germany and the families of all those affected by this horrific act,” the statement read.
Reports indicate that at least five individuals lost their lives in the car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, with more than 200 others sustaining injuries. Authorities have arrested a Saudi national suspected of driving the car into the crowd.
The Friday evening attack on marketgoers celebrating the pre-Christmas season occurs amidst intense debates over security and migration during Germany’s election campaign, where far-right parties are gaining significant support in the polls.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the attack as a horrific act, saying, “It is devastating to see so many people injured and killed with such brutality.” Speaking in the central city, part of the former East Germany, he laid a white rose at a church to honor the victims.
“We have learned that over 200 people have been injured,” he added. “Nearly 40 are in critical condition, and we are deeply concerned for their recovery.”
German authorities are investigating a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, who has lived in Germany for nearly 20 years, in connection with the car-ramming attack. Police conducted an overnight search of his residence.
The suspect’s motive remains unknown, and police have not officially released his identity. However, German media have identified him as Taleb A.
