Germany market attack leaves 5 dead and more than 200 injured

Nine-year-old child among five dead as Scholz decries “incredible” pre-Christmas attack: Catch up

Among five dead in a horror car-ramming in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday is a nine-year-old child.

Authorities arrested a suspect, a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia believed to be a former Muslim who had renounced his faith and become even anti-Islam.

The deadly attack comes less than two months before the country goes to the polls in snap elections, amid a heated debate about Germany’s migration policy.

Here’s what you need to know:

Five dead: At least five people were killed in the Magdeburg Christmas market attack, including a child, Ronni Krug, a Magdeburg city official, said in an address to the media on Saturday. Chancellor Scholz said there were more than 200 injured, including about 40 with such critical injuries that they were still “very worried” about them. Scholz called the figure “unbelievable.”

‘Islamophobe’ suspect: The motive for the assault has yet to be revealed, but during a media briefing on Saturday, Dr. Horst Nopens, Head of the Magdeburg Public Prosecutor’s office, explained that the suspect may have called for Germany to treat Saudi Arabian refugees more poorly. German media have identified hiim as Taleb A. On social media he was reported to have posted anti-Islam statements and support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) economic party. He is believed to have worked with Saudis, particularly women, to help them leave his home country. His crimes have been described as “Islamophobic” by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

The suspect’s profile: A leading German expert on terrorism said he was surprised at the suspect’s profile. “25 years in this ‘business’ you think nothing would surprise you but it’s that and so much more. But a 50-year-old former Muslim from Saudi Arabia who lives in East Germany, dotes on the AfD (the Alternative for Germany party) and wants to exact vengeance on Germany for its tolerance of Islamists — that was not on my radar at all,” added expert Peter Neumann.

Scholz visits Magdeburg: On Saturday, Scholz visited Magdeburg, the site of the Christmas market attack, where he spoke with residents and honored the victims by laying flowers. Speaking at the media briefing, he called the attack “awful” and emphasized that Germans need to “stick together as a country and not allow hatred to divide us.” A vigil is expected later.

Enhanced security: Berlin will boost its police presence at the city’s Christmas markets in the wake of the attack. “The security authorities are in ongoing contact with one another. As a precaution, the Berlin police will deploy extra personnel to the Christmas markets in the city,” the city’s Interior Minister Iris Spranger said. The Magdeburg marketplace is now closed.