State premier says suspect thought to be ‘lone perpetrator’ of attack in eastern town of Magdeburg

• Full report: two killed and scores injured in Germany as car ploughs into crowd at Christmas market

Security experts said they were astounded that the man was able to drive into the market despite the heavy-set bollards which had been installed to prevent such an attack.

Hans-Jakob Schindler, a terrorist expert, told German media: “In the first instance it’s a surprise that a vehicle of that size was able to drive onto a Christmas market in Germany.”