German Christmas market attack – latest: Suspect named as two dead and 68 injured after car rams Magdeburg crowd
A Saudi doctor has been arrested after a driver ploughed a car into a busy Christmas market in eastern Germany, killing at least two.
Police arrested the suspect, who has been identified as Taleb A., a 50-year-old doctor who sympathised with Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party, according to local media.
A Saudi source told Reuters the kingdom had warned German authorities about the attacker, who the source said had posted extremist views on his personal X account.
At least two people including a toddler died after a car drove into Magdeburg Christmas market at around 7pm, when it was busy with holiday shoppers looking forward to the weekend.
A further 68 were injured, including 15 who were hurt very seriously, according to government officials.
Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff said he couldn’t rule out further deaths because so many people were seriously injured.
The attack sparked global condemnation from world leaders, including UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who said he is “horrified” by the “atrocious attack”.
“I am horrified by the atrocious attack in Magdeburg tonight,” the Prime Minister said. “My thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected.”
