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Major media outlets, including the Associated Press, are facing criticism for their coverage of the car attack at a German Christmas market. The headline carried by the news agency Associated Press, “A car has driven into a group of people at a Christmas market in Germany," has been accused of downplaying the driver's role, suggesting the incident was an autonomous act by the vehicle.
A car has driven into a group of people at a Christmas market in Germany https://t.co/IepW8HsBZg
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 20, 2024
The backlash intensified after video evidence emerged, clearly showing the driver being apprehended at the scene.
US Vice President-elect JD Vance was among those who added his voice to the debate, questioning the language used in the reporting. “Who was driving the car,” asked JD Vance.
Who was driving the car? https://t.co/A6Bq8WuswL
— JD Vance (@JDVance) December 20, 2024
A community note on X (formerly Twitter) also flagged the AP headline for its misleading nature, clarifying, “‘A car has driven' implies the car drove itself, which is factually incorrect. A man from Saudi Arabia intentionally drove the car into the Christmas market as a terror attack.”
This pretty well encapsulates the last decade in journalism. pic.twitter.com/jFQ7bl5xtJ
— Jimbo Chewdip (@jimbochewdip) December 21, 2024
The AP's headline, along with those from other outlets, triggered a wave of criticism online. A user posted, “So everyone is clear, this is what ‘a car has driven into a group of people' looks like. Nothing close to the passive headline that the AP wrote. Just another example of why you don't hate the LM (Legacy Media) enough…!!”
So everyone is clear, this is what “a car has driven into a group of people” looks like. Nothing close to the passive headline that the AP wrote.
Just another example of why you don't hate the LM (Legacy Media) enough…!! pic.twitter.com/X2FDTfZQoM
— B-rad Brad (@HawksandCards) December 20, 2024
Others questioned whether the media's phrasing was an attempt to avoid highlighting the driver's background, with one poll asking, “Is the Associated Press deliberately avoiding mentioning the driver to downplay the growing global hostility toward Christians?”
Is the Associated Press deliberately avoiding mentioning the driver to downplay the growing global hostility toward Christians?
— The North Poll (@the_northpoll) December 20, 2024
A person added, “Based on the AP's reporting we are to believe the helpless Saudi man in the driver's seat was a victim of the car kidnapping him.”
Based on the AP's reporting we are to believe the helpless Saudi man in the driver's seat was a victim of the car kidnapping him. ????♂️
— Simon Unleashed (@SimonSaysKnow) December 20, 2024
“Was it driverless? How did the car drive into a market intentionally all on its own? “Saudi Arabian terrorist drives car into market killing many”. Fixed it for you,” read a comment.
Was it driverless? How did the car drive into a market intentionally all on its own? “Saudi Arabian terrorist drives car into market killing many”. Fixed it for you.
— @kwatsup (@Kimberl72012171) December 21, 2024
Elon Musk chimes in
Elon Musk also took aim at legacy media, including the AP. He wrote on X, “You don't hate the lying legacy media enough.”
You don't hate the lying legacy media enough https://t.co/gMtjbp2EMG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2024
The Guardian was under fire too
The Guardian also faced similar backlash for its headline that described the vehicle as a "dark BMW" without mentioning the driver.
Sharing a screenshot of the headline in The Guardian, a person said, “Hey The Guardian, I'm pretty sure a ‘dark BMW' didn't decide to drive into a crowd enjoying their Christmas market. You know as well as we do that a man who was arrested at the scene was responsible for this atrocity so give the insulting narrative a rest.”
Hey @guardian
I'm pretty sure a “dark BMW” didn't decide to drive into a crowd enjoying their Christmas market.
You know as well as we do that a man who was arrested at the scene was responsible for this atrocity so give the insulting narrative a rest. pic.twitter.com/jP1tKNvcI9
— Cold957 (@cold957) December 20, 2024
The attack in Magdeburg claimed two lives and injured 68 others when a 50-year-old Saudi doctor drove a BMW into a crowded Christmas market. He was arrested at gunpoint following what authorities described as a terror attack.