German authorities probe motive in Christmas market attack

MAGDEBURG, Germany: Authorities investigated a Saudi doctor with a history of anti-Islam rhetoric as the suspected driver in a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg that killed five people and injured scores.

The Friday evening attack on crowds gathered to celebrate the Christmas season could sharpen a fierce debate in Germany over security and immigration ahead of a national election in February, with opinion polls suggesting the far right will perform strongly.

Authorities said on Saturday the motive was not clear.

Police did not name the suspect, identified by German media only as Taleb A. The driver used emergency exit points to slowly navigate the vehicle towards the market, before picking up speed and ploughing into the crowd, a city police official told reporters.

Those killed were a nine-year-old child and four adults, Magdeburg city official Ronni Krug said, adding that some 41 of the injured had either serious or critical injuries.

“I don’t know about you, but I associate the Christmas market with mulled wine and bratwurst, and yesterday people died in this area. Others are fighting for their lives,” Krug said.

Authorities closed the market for the remainder of the season. “What a terrible act it is to injure and kill so many people with such brutality,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during a visit to the city, where he laid a white rose at a church.