A car drove into a group of people at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, leaving at least one person dead and between 60 and 80 people injured.

The driver of the car, reported to be a dark BMW, was arrested following the crash which took place at 7:04pm today, according to unidentified government officials in the state of Saxony-Anhalt who spoke to the dpa news agency.

According to emergency services, several people were ‘severely’ injured.

Video footage too graphic to share appears to show the dark car careening into the dense crowd, leaving dozens of people lying on the floor.

Within seconds, countless revellers can be see fleeing for their lives in the wake of the crash.

Separate footage showed children crying loudly as several small crowds of people formed over those injured in the crash, in apparent attempts to help them.

Local police said on X that ‘extensive police operations are currently taking place’, adding that further reports will be made shortly.

The Magdeburg Christmas market is located on the Old Market, directly next to Magdeburg Town Hall near the River Elbe, and was closed by organisers following the incident.

Organisers have also asked people to leave the city centre. Neighbouring cities, including Halle, around 50 miles from Magdeburg, are preparing its hospitals to take on victims.

Halle is also stepping up its own security measures in the wake of the incident.

Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff said in the wake of the attack: ‘This is a terrible event, especially now in the days before Christmas.’

Haselhoff is said to be travelling to the city to bear witness to the aftermath of the attack.

CDU candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) wrote on X: ‘This is very depressing news from Magdeburg. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I thank all emergency services who are caring for the injured on site.’

AfD leader Alice Weidel, meanwhile, wrote on the platform: ‘The images from Magdeburg are shocking! My thoughts are with the bereaved and injured. When will this madness end?’