German Christmas market assault – newest: Suspect seems in courtroom as leaders heckled over ‘security failings’ | EUROtoday

Around 1,000 folks congregated within the metropolis of Magdeburg on Saturday night time (21 December), after misinformation in regards to the motives of the suspected attacker unfold on-line.

Protesters chanted “Those who do not love Germany should leave Germany” and held a banner with the phrase “Remigration” on it.

There had been some minor scuffles with the police, in accordance with native media stories.

Police have arrested a 50-year-old Saudi physician recognized by native media as Taleb A, who had lived in Germany since 2006 and reportedly sympathised with Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany occasion.

In the aftermath of the assault, an nameless eyewitness advised the Central German newspaper newspaper that the perpetrator drove into the ‘Fairy Tale’ space of the Magdeburg Christmas market, and that there have been many households current. She and her youngster had been capable of soar to the aspect of the automobile.

A restaurateur stated that the motive force raced straight previous his burger stand, describing the situations as “war-like”.

As the German metropolis of Magdeburg mourns the lack of folks killed in an assault on a Christmas market, anger is rising over “security concerns”.

Security at Christmas markets in Germany has stepped up in recent times following a lethal assault in Berlin in 2016, however the attacker was capable of achieve entry on Friday through emergency exit factors.

City official Ronni Krug insisted the safety idea for the Magdeburg Christmas market was “constantly being revised and modified.”

He stated: “How this case could come about must first be investigated by the police. I will not indulge in speculation. But you can rest assured that we will continue to update the security concept, which we are constantly updating anyway, once we have reached an assessment with our colleagues from the police.”

Four girls and a nine-year-old boy have been killed, with 41 folks thought to nonetheless be critically injured.

A 50-year-old physician from Saudi Arabia was arrested on Friday following the assault and has been remanded in custody.

Identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, he has been within the nation since 2006 and in accordance with native media shops, he reportedly sympathised with the nation’s far-right Alternative for Germany occasion.

Here’s every part we all know in regards to the assault up to now:

In the times since his arrest, a 2019 BBC video that includes the Magdeburg assault suspect has resurfaced.

In the interview, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen is seen discussing a web site he designed to assist ex-Muslims flee the Gulf area.

German authorities acquired a warning final 12 months in regards to the suspect in a automotive assault at a Christmas market which killed 5 folks, officers have stated.

The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees stated on social media web site X on Sunday it acquired a tip in late summer season 2023.

The stated: “This was taken seriously, like every other of the numerous tips.”

The workplace highlighted it’s not an investigative workplace and stated it referred the knowledge to the related authorities, following process in such instances.

It gave no different particulars in regards to the suspect or the character of the warnings.

Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old physician from Saudi Arabia, is suspected of ramming his automotive right into a German Christmas market, killing 5.

On Saturday night, he was remanded into custody after showing in a courtroom during which he was charged with 5 counts of homicide, a number of tried homicide and a number of counts of harmful bodily hurt.

Authorities confirmed that he first got here to Germany in 2006 and later gained refugee standing in 2016.

He labored as a psychiatric physician within the close by city of Bernburg, along with his office issuing an announcement describing their shock on the assault.

Posting on Instagram, the Salus-Fachklinikum Bernburg clinic stated it was “shocked to learn that the alleged perpetrator worked as a specialist doctor in our enforcement in Bernburg”.

It added that the suspect had been employed there as a psychiatric specialist since March 2020, however he had not been working since October on account of sickness and vacation.

Authorities have confirmed {that a} nine-year-old boy is among the many 5 individuals who had been killed in an assault on a Christmas market in japanese Germany.

Magdeburg police stated that the opposite victims had been 4 girls, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75.

205 folks had been injured within the assault together with 41 in crucial situation.