Major media outlets, including the Associated Press, are facing criticism for their coverage of a car attack at a German Christmas market. The headline, “A car plows into a group of people at a German Christmas market,” published by the news agency Associated Press, has been accused of downplaying the role of the driver, suggesting that the incident was a vehicle-borne accident. It was an autonomous work.
A car runs over a group of people at a Christmas market in Germany
– Associated Press (@AP) 20 December 2024
The reaction intensified after video evidence emerged, apparently showing the driver caught at the scene.
US Vice President-elect JD Vance was among those who raised his voice in the debate, questioning the language used in the reporting. “Who was driving the car,” J.D. Vance asked.
Who was driving the car?
– JD Vance (@JDVance) 20 December 2024
A community note on An Arab man deliberately drove a car into a Christmas market as a terrorist attack.”
This reflects the last decade of journalism well. pic.twitter.com/jFQ7bl5xtJ
– Jimbo Chewdip (@jimbochewdip) 21 December 2024
The AP’s headline, along with headlines from other outlets, sparked a wave of criticism online. One user posted, “So everyone is clear, this is what ‘a car drove into a group of people’ looks like. Nothing close to the inactive headline written by AP. This is another example of why you don’t hate LM (Legacy Media) so much…!!”
So everyone is clear, this is what “a car plowed into a group of people” looks like. Nothing close to the inactive headline written by AP.
This is another example of why you don’t hate LM (Legacy Media) so much…!! pic.twitter.com/X2FDTfZQoM
– B-Rad Brad (@HawksandCards) 20 December 2024
Others questioned whether the media’s phrasing was an effort to avoid highlighting Driver’s background, with one poll asking, “Whether the Associated Press intentionally avoided mentioning Driver to play down growing global hostility toward Christians.” Is escaping?”
Is The Associated Press deliberately avoiding mention of Driver to downplay growing global hostility toward Christians?
– The North Poll (@the_northpoll) 20 December 2024
“Based on AP reporting, we believe the helpless Saudi man in the driver’s seat was a hijacking victim,” one person said.
Based on AP reporting, we believe the helpless Saudi man in the driver’s seat was a car hijacking victim. ????
– Simon Unleashed (@SimonSaysKnow) 20 December 2024
“Was it driverless? How did the car deliberately go on the market on its own? “Saudi Arabian terrorist kills several after ramming car into market”. It’s been fixed for you,” read one comment.
Was it driverless? How did the car deliberately go on the market on its own? “Saudi Arabian terrorist kills several after ramming car into market”. This has been fixed for you.
– @kwatsup (@Kimberl72012171) 21 December 2024
Elon Musk’s voice comes
Elon Musk also took aim at legacy media, including AP. “You don’t hate the lying legacy media enough,” he wrote on X.
You don’t hate the lying legacy media enough
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 20 December 2024
The Guardian was also in the grip of fire
The Guardian faced similar backlash for its headline, which described the vehicle as a “dark BMW” without mentioning the driver.
Sharing a screenshot of the headline in The Guardian, one person said, “Hey The Guardian, I’m pretty sure a ‘dark BMW’ didn’t decide to drive into a crowd enjoying a Christmas market. You know as well as we do that the man who was arrested at the scene was responsible for this atrocity, so put an end to this outrageous story.
Oho @Guardian
I’m pretty sure the “dark BMW” didn’t decide to drive into a crowd enjoying a Christmas market.
You know as well as we do that the man who was arrested at the scene was responsible for this atrocity, so put an end to this outrageous story. pic.twitter.com/jP1tKNvcI9
– cold957 (@cold957) 20 December 2024
Two people were killed and 68 others were injured in an attack in Magdeburg when a 50-year-old Saudi doctor drove a BMW into a crowded Christmas market. He was arrested at gunpoint after authorities described it as a terrorist attack.
