A Saudi Arabian man accused of killing five people, including a nine-year-old boy, and injuring over 200 others by driving into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, has been remanded in custody.
The suspect, identified as 50-year-old Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, was brought before a judge on Saturday evening, a day after the incident.
Police confirmed that he faces charges of five counts of murder, multiple attempted murders, and dangerous bodily harm.
According to BBC, the attack occurred on Friday evening when a black BMW ploughed through the crowded market. The deceased victims were four women aged 45, 52, 67, and 75, and a young boy. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as they scrambled to avoid the vehicle.
“He was hit and pulled away from my side,” a woman named Nadine told German newspaper Bild, recounting how her boyfriend was struck by the car.
Local reporter Lars Frohmüller told the BBC about the aftermath, saying he saw “blood on the floor” and medical personnel attending to victims in distress.
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The suspect, who arrived in Germany in 2006 and was granted refugee status a decade later, worked as a psychiatrist in Bernburg, near Magdeburg.
Reports indicate he had been critical of Islam, running a website aimed at helping former Muslims escape persecution in Gulf countries.
German prosecutors are investigating possible motives, including the suspect’s alleged dissatisfaction with Saudi Arabian refugees’ treatment in Germany. However, Magdeburg police stated there is no evidence linking him to Islamist extremism.
The Saudi government had reportedly issued warnings to German authorities about al-Abdulmohsen’s “extreme views.”
A source close to the Saudi government claimed these alerts were ignored, but a counter-terrorism expert suggested that such warnings might be part of a disinformation campaign.
A memorial service for the victims was held on Saturday at Magdeburg Cathedral, attended by families, emergency workers, and government officials, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
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