Germany Christmas Market Attack: The death toll in the deadly car ramming attack on a Christmas market in Germany on Friday has risen to five, with over 200 people injured. The deceased includes a child as well. The German police have arrested a man from Saudi Arabia who reportedly ploughed the vehicle through the crowd at a high speed in the eastern city of Magdeburg located 130 kiometres southwest of Berlin.
The 50-year-old doctor was arrested at the site of the attack on Friday evening, following which he was taken for questioning. The accused has lived in Germany for almost two decades and had been practicising medicine in Bernburg.
The update on the death toll was given by Reiner Haseloff, the governor of the surrounding state of Saxony-Anhalt. Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that around 40 of the 200 injured people are “so seriously injured that we must be very worried about them,” Associated Press reported.
Though the identity of the suspect remains unconfirmed, several German media outlets have identified the doctor as Taleb A, who was a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy. According to a report by The Guardian, the suspect had rented the car shortly before the attack. His motive behind driving through the crowd in a market remains unknown.
Following the attack, mourners placed flowers and lit candles outside a church near the market to offer condolences. A choir of a Berlin church that witnessed another attack in the Christmas market back in 2016, sang a hymn to offer their prayers for the victims.
Earlier today, the premier of the state, Reiner Haseloff, called the attack a catastrophe for the city of Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and also for Germany.
According to AP, the suspect, a former Muslim, criticised the religion and even congratulated those who stopped practicising the religion. He had even shared a string of tweets focused on anti-Islam themes, and accused German government of failing to combat the “Islamism of Europe”.
The report also mentioned that he was an activist who helped women from Saudi Arabia flee their homeland and also voiced support for anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Magdeburg remains in shock over the incident which has marred the festivities. Several Christmas markets in the neighbouring towns have been canceled as a precaution and out of solidarity for the victims.
A memorial service will also take place in the city cathedral in the evening, for which Chancellor Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser have traveled to Magdeburg. Faeser has also ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff at all federal buildings across Germany.
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