Germany, Dec 21, (V7N) – German police have arrested a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian man following a deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg on Friday evening.

A black BMW SUV plowed through the crowded market at high speed, killing two people, including a young child, and injuring 68 others. Authorities described the incident as a "catastrophe" for the city and the nation.

Suspect Details

The suspect, identified as Taleb A., a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry, has been living in Germany since 2006. According to Saxony-Anhalt regional premier Reiner Haseloff, the attacker acted alone, and authorities believe there is no further threat.

Video footage from the scene shows the suspect being apprehended by armed police officers, who shouted commands as he lay next to the heavily damaged vehicle.

Scene of Chaos

The attack occurred at around 7:00 PM local time at Magdeburg’s central town hall square. Witnesses described a scene of terror as the vehicle traveled over 400 meters through the market, leaving a path of destruction.

Emergency services rushed to the site, where victims were treated amidst the wreckage of festive decorations, broken glass, and bloodied debris.

Reactions

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, writing on X, "The reports from Magdeburg raise the worst fears." Scholz is expected to visit the city on Saturday.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for vigilance at Christmas markets, while President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged caution as investigations continue.

International leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Germany.

Context and Concerns

The incident has drawn comparisons to a 2016 terrorist attack in Berlin, where a Tunisian man drove a truck into a Christmas market, killing 12. While authorities have yet to determine a motive for the Magdeburg attack, Islamist-motivated violence remains a significant concern in Germany.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant as the investigation into the incident continues.

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