Minute of silence in Groningen held for Magdeburg Christmas market attack victims

The city of Groningen observed a minute of silence Saturday evening to honor the victims of the attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany.

The incident, which occurred Friday night, left five dead and over 200 injured, including 40 critically, after a Saudi man allegedly drove into a crowd of marketgoers.

At exactly 7 p.m., attractions at Groningen's Winterstad festival, including a Ferris wheel, were stopped. Lights were dimmed, and music ceased across the event to mark the solemn moment.

The decision to observe the silence came earlier in the day, with the festival organizers announcing their plans on social media. “We are all deeply shocked and profoundly affected by the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg,” wrote the Winterstad Groningen organization on Facebook. “We will turn off all lights and music, and the attractions will pause.”