At least four people, including a young child, have been killed and 41 gravely injured after a car drove into crowds at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg.

A total of 70 people have been injured in the attack, which took place last night.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has reacted to the news, saying he is “shocked and appalled by the loss of life and injuries in Germany”.

He has noted that Irish citizens in the area should follow the advice of local authorities.

Police have arrested the suspect - a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia - who moved to Germany in 2006.

Speaking through an interpreter, the state premier of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Hasleoff, said dozens of people have been taken to hospital.

“The injured will be taken care of medically, and also, of course, family members of those injured are in shock,” he said.

“They're all having to digest this terrible tragedy.”

Peak market time

Liam Clowes, who was at the market at the time of the attack, said: “Luckily, we were around sort of 15 to 20 yards away from the car, and we went in the other direction.

“We sustained no injuries but we saw, obviously, people that had been had been injured, people lying still on the floor and a few people walking away.”

Reporter Siobhan Robbins said the car appears to have hit the crowd at “around four minutes past seven local time”, which is when the market would have been particularly busy.

“It's dinner time - people who have broken up from work or kids who've broken up from school may have been there with their families,” she said.

Young German police officer in full riot gear. Image: Alamy