Germany: Death Toll In Christmas Market Attack Rises To 5, Over 200 Injured; Saudi Doctor In Custody — Updates

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff at all federal buildings across Germany, mourning for the lives lost in the Christmas market attack.

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 Saudi man who reportedly ploughed the vehicle through the crowd at a high speed in the eastern city of Magdeburg located 130 kilometres southwest of Berlin.

The 50-year-old suspect is a doctor and was arrested at the site of the attack on Friday evening, following which he was taken for questioning. The suspect 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 BBC, the doctor worked for a specialist clinic in Bernburg, a town 46km (28m) from Magdeburg. He was employed at the Salus-Fachklinikum Bernburg as a psychiatric specialist since March 2020. However, he had been off-duty since October 2024 due to illness and holiday. 

After the incident took place, the Salus-Fachklinikum Bernburg, in a statement on social media, expressed shock after it got to know "the alleged perpetrator worked as a specialist doctor in our enforcement in Bernburg".

"We have been supporting the work of the investigative authorities in every possible way since the late hours," it said, adding that they are "stunned and shocked by the horrific attack".

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.