Elon Musk, JD Vance criticise media coverage of German Christmas market attack

The incident, which is being treated as a deliberate act of violence by the authorities, killed five people and left over 200 injured.

By: Express Web Desk
Updated: December 21, 2024 10:04 PM IST

2 min read

The attack has reignited political debate in Germany. (AP photos)

United States Vice President-elect JD Vance and Elon Musk have condemned the media coverage of an incident wherein a Saudi doctor drove his car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. The incident, which is being treated as a deliberate act of violence by the authorities, killed five people and left over 200 injured.

Taking to social media platform X, Vance reacted to a headline by The Associated Press, which described the event as a “car” driving “into a group of people.” “Who was driving the car?” Vance questioned

In a post before this, Vance expressed condolences for the people affected by the incident. “What a ghastly attack so close to Christmas,” he posted.

Sharing a screengrab of the different media outlets’ coverage of the attack, Musk echoed similar sentiments. “You don’t hate the lying legacy media enough,” he said.

The attack

The incident occurred on Friday when a black BMW sped through the crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing five, including a child, and leaving more than 200 injured.

The crash occurred around 7 pm local time, during a busy evening of holiday shopping at the market. A video from the scene showed the suspect — identified as a 50-year-old Saudi national who had been living in Germany since 2006 — surrendering to police shortly after the attack.

In Photos | All you need to know about deadly Christmas market car attack in Germany

The driver, identified as Tayeb A., a 50-year-old Saudi-born psychiatrist, was arrested at the scene. Authorities described the act as a terror attack but noted the suspect was not linked to Islamist groups.

The attack has reignited political debate in Germany, with leaders like Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemning the violence. Scholz, due to visit Magdeburg, called it “terrible” and urged vigilance.

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The tragedy has also drawn international attention, with world leaders and political figures expressing solidarity with the victims while scrutinizing media framing of the event.

(With inputs from The Guardian)

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