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Nine-year-old among five killed in attack on German Christmas market Nine-year-old among five killed in attack on German Christmas market
(about 2 hours later)
Video shows arrest of Magdeburg attack suspectVideo shows arrest of Magdeburg attack suspect
A nine-year-old child and four adults have been killed, and more than 200 injured after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday, officials say. A nine-year-old child and four adults have been killed after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg.
At least 41 people were critically injured after the incident which lasted around three minutes, police said. More than 200 people were injured - at least 41 critically - in the attack on Friday evening.
The arrested suspect has been named in local media as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi citizen who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had worked as a doctor. A black BMW SUV ploughed 400 metres through the crowded market in an attack that lasted about three minutes.
Reiner Haseloff, the premier of Saxony-Anhalt state, said a preliminary investigation suggested the alleged attacker was acting alone. The suspect has been named in local media as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi citizen who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had worked as a doctor.
He added that he could not rule out more deaths due to the number of injured. Prosecutor Horst Walter Nopens said on Saturday that the investigation was ongoing but suggested the background to the crime "could have been disgruntlement with the way Saudi Arabian refugees are treated in Germany".
A memorial service was held for victims of the attack at Magdeburg Cathedral on Saturday evening. The suspected attacker has no known links to Islamist extremism. His social media and posts appear to suggest he had been critical of Islam.
The service was attended by families of the victims, emergency workers and government officials, including the German chancellor. A source close to the Saudi government told the BBC it sent four official notifications known as "Notes Verbal" to German authorities, warning them about what they said were "the very extreme views" held by al-Abdulmohsen.
The source, who asked not to be named, said these notifications were ignored.
However, another experienced counter-terrorism expert said the Saudis may be mounting a disinformation campaign to discredit someone who tried to help young Saudi women seek asylum in Germany.
Follow live updates on this storyFollow live updates on this story
What we know so far about Magdeburg Christmas market attackWhat we know so far about Magdeburg Christmas market attack
Eyewitness saw car hit boyfriend in attackEyewitness saw car hit boyfriend in attack
People left floral tributes to the victims near the site in MagdeburgPeople left floral tributes to the victims near the site in Magdeburg
Al-Abdulmohsen is currently being questioned and prosecutors expect to charge him with murder and attempted murder in due course, the head of the local prosecutor's office said on Saturday.
Reiner Haseloff, the premier of Saxony-Anhalt state, said a preliminary investigation suggested the alleged attacker was acting alone.
City officials said around 100 police, medics and firefighters, as well as 50 rescue service personnel, rushed to the scene shortly after 19:00 local time on Friday.
Al-Abdulmohsen is thought to have driven into the market through an entry point which was reserved for emergency vehicles, police said.
The suspect is a psychiatrist who lived in Bernburg, around 40km (25 miles) south of Magdeburg.
Originally from Saudi Arabia, al-Abdulmohsen arrived in Germany in 2006 and in 2016 was recognised as a refugee.
He ran a website that aimed to help other former Muslims flee persecution in their Gulf homelands.
Families of the victims, emergency workers and government officials attended a memorial service at Magdeburg CathedralFamilies of the victims, emergency workers and government officials attended a memorial service at Magdeburg Cathedral
The suspect is currently being questioned and prosecutors expect to charge him with murder and attempted murder in due course, the head of the local prosecutor's office said on Saturday. On Saturday evening, a memorial service was held for victims of the attack at Magdeburg Cathedral.
Prosecutor Horst Walter Nopens added that the investigation was ongoing but suggested the background to the crime "could have been disgruntlement with the way Saudi Arabian refugees are treated in Germany". The service was attended by families of the victims, emergency workers and government officials, including German chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The suspected attacker has no known links to Islamist extremism - social media and posts online appear to suggest he had been critical of Islam. During a visit to the market earlier on Saturday, Scholz described the attack as a "dreadful tragedy" as "so many people were injured and killed with such brutality" in a place that is supposed to be "joyful".
Footage from the scene showed numerous emergency services vehicles attending while people lay on the ground. He told reporters that there were serious concerns for those who had been critically injured and that "all resources" will be allocated to investigating the suspect behind the attack.
Further footage then emerged of armed police confronting and arresting a man who can be seen lying on the ground by a stationary vehicle. Witnesses described jumping out of the car's path, fleeing or hiding during Friday's attack.
Unverified video on social media purports to show a car ploughing into the crowd at the market. In an interview with German paper Bild, Nadine described being at the Christmas market with her boyfriend Marco when the car came speeding towards them.
City officials said around 100 police, medics and firefighters, as well as 50 rescue service personnel rushed to the scene.
The suspect is thought to have driven into the market through an entry point which was reserved for emergency vehicles, police said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who travelled to the city on Saturday, described the attack as a "dreadful tragedy" as "so many people were injured and killed with such brutality" in a place that is supposed to be "joyful".
He told reporters that there were serious concerns for those who had been critically injured - which German media reports is in the dozens - and that "all resources" will be allocated to investigating the suspect behind the attack.
In an interview with German paper Bild, Nadine, described being at the Christmas market with her boyfriend, Marco, when the car came speeding towards them.
"He was hit and pulled away from my side," the 32-year-old told the paper. "It was terrible.""He was hit and pulled away from my side," the 32-year-old told the paper. "It was terrible."
Meanwhile, Lars Frohmüller, a reporter for German public broadcaster MDR, told BBC Radio 4's World Tonight he saw "blood on the floor" as well as "many doctors trying to keep people warm and help them with their injuries".Meanwhile, Lars Frohmüller, a reporter for German public broadcaster MDR, told BBC Radio 4's World Tonight he saw "blood on the floor" as well as "many doctors trying to keep people warm and help them with their injuries".
German media identified the suspect as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a psychiatrist who lives in Bernburg, around 40km (25 miles) south of Magdeburg.
Originally from Saudi Arabia, he arrived in Germany in 2006 and in 2016 was recognised as a refugee.
He ran a website that aimed to help other former Muslims flee persecution in their Gulf homelands.
Evidenced by social media posts, the suspect is an outspoken critic of Islam, and has promoted conspiracy theories regarding a plot to seek Islamic supremacy in Europe.
A source close to the Saudi government has told the BBC it sent four official notifications known as "Notes Verbal" to the German authorities, warning them about what they said were "the very extreme views" held by Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen.
The source, who asked not to be named, said these notifications were ignored.
However, another experienced counter-terrorism expert said the Saudis may be mounting a disinformation campaign to discredit someone who tried to help young Saudi women seek asylum in Germany.
In the past there have been cases reported of agents of the Saudi government carrying out surveillance on dissident Saudis living in Germany and Canada and attempts to bring them back to Saudi Arabia by force.
When the incident occurred, Magdeburg's football team were playing against Fortuna Dusseldorf.
After the game finished, the team's players united in a line in front of their supporters. A statement from the club said its "thoughts are with those affected by the terrible events and the Magdeburg Christmas market".
Meanwhile, a minute's silence was held at the end of a match between Bayern and RB Leipzig in Munich.
Friday's incident is not the first time people at a Christmas market have been attacked in Germany.Friday's incident is not the first time people at a Christmas market have been attacked in Germany.
In 2016, Anis Amri, a Tunisian man who failed to gain asylum in Germany and had links to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, drove a truck into crowds gathered at a church market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring 49 others.In 2016, Anis Amri, a Tunisian man who failed to gain asylum in Germany and had links to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, drove a truck into crowds gathered at a church market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring 49 others.
Two years later, a gunman opened fire on a Christmas market in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, killing five and injuring another 11 people. The gunman was shot dead by police two days later.Two years later, a gunman opened fire on a Christmas market in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, killing five and injuring another 11 people. The gunman was shot dead by police two days later.
Only last month, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser talked about the need for "greater vigilance" at the highly popular markets - but said there were no "concrete" indications of danger. Only last month, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser talked about the need for "greater vigilance" at the highly popular markets but said there were no "concrete" indications of danger.
She also reportedly pointed to tougher laws on weapons in public spaces following a knife attack in Solingen, west Germany, in August in which three people died - an incident which reignited an already fraught debate on asylum and migration in Germany. She also reportedly pointed to tougher laws on weapons in public spaces following a knife attack in Solingen, west Germany, in August in which three people died.
Additional reporting Frank Gardner.Additional reporting Frank Gardner.
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