A man has been detained on multiple charges of murder and attempted murder after allegedly driving a car into crowds at a German Christmas market, resulting in the death of five people and injuries to over 200.
The Magdeburg police department announced on Sunday that the man has been issued a warrant for pre-trial detention on charges including five counts of murder, attempted murder, and grievous bodily harm.
The victims included a nine-year-old boy and four women aged 52, 45, 75, and 67, with about 40 other individuals sustaining serious or critical injuries.
The suspect reportedly accessed the Christmas market grounds using emergency exit routes and then drove into the crowds, hitting over 200 people in a three-minute rampage before being arrested.
Simmering tensions
The attack in Magdeburg on Friday evening has sparked shock and reignited tensions surrounding migration issues in Germany.
The suspect, identified as Taleb A, is a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia residing in Germany for nearly two decades with a history of anti-Islam rhetoric.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but it is suggested that the suspect’s frustration with Germany’s treatment of Saudi refugees could be a factor.
Reports indicate that the suspect had made online threats against German citizens and had clashed with state authorities, raising questions about potential missed opportunities to prevent the attack.
Emboldening the far right
Following the incident, far-right demonstrations in Magdeburg on Saturday night resulted in scuffles and minor disturbances, with approximately 2,100 attendees.
Protesters, some in black balaclavas, displayed a banner reading “remigration,” calling for the deportation of immigrants and non-ethnically German individuals.
The incident has drawn criticism from far-right and far-left parties ahead of a key election in Germany on February 23, with calls for heightened security measures and accountability from government officials.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned the attack and called for national unity in the face of the tragedy.
