Saudi doctor rams car into Christmas market crowd in Germany, killing two and injuring dozens

Saudi doctor arrested for Christmas market car ‘attack’ in Magdeburg

A driver rammed a car into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday evening, resulting in at least two fatalities and over 60 injuries. Among the deceased was a young child, according to Reiner Haseloff, the Premier of Saxony-Anhalt, where the incident occurred. The attack unfolded about 150 kilometers west of Berlin, and Haseloff described it as a catastrophe for the city, state, and Germany as a whole. The death toll may rise due to the severity of some injuries.

The suspect, identified as a 50-year-old male doctor from Saudi Arabia with permanent residency in Germany, was arrested shortly after the incident. He had been living in Germany for nearly two decades. Authorities initially confirmed that there was no ongoing threat, as the perpetrator was taken into custody. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but German authorities noted that the suspect was not previously linked to any Islamist activities.

A Saudi source informed that the Kingdom had warned German officials about the suspect’s extremist views, which were allegedly posted on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. German media outlets, including Der Spiegel, identified the attacker as Taleb A, a psychiatrist with sympathies for Germany’s far-right political party, Alternative for Germany. Saudi Arabia condemned the attack.

In the aftermath of the attack, authorities investigated a possible explosive device near the vehicle, though no such device was found. Police also conducted operations in Bernburg, where the suspect is believed to have resided.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences on social media, and he is expected to visit the scene on Saturday, accompanied by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

Social media footage of the attack shows the car speeding through the market, with shoppers scrambling to escape as the vehicle struck several people. Local broadcasters reported that victims were treated on-site by medical personnel.

The attack has revived concerns about the security of Christmas markets, which have been a focus for authorities in the wake of previous attacks. In 2016, a truck driven by Anis Amri, a Tunisian asylum seeker, plowed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring dozens more.

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