MAGDEBURG and LONDON — A decide granted an arrest warrant for homicide on Saturday for the suspect accused of killing 5 folks by allegedly plowing a automobile right into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, police stated on Sunday.
A German official within the metropolis of Magdeburg individually confirmed to ABC Information that the suspect, Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen, 50, who’s initially from Saudi Arabia, appeared earlier than a German decide in Magdeburg on Saturday. A neighborhood state prosecutor stated throughout a press convention on Saturday that the suspect’s first identify is “Taleb,” however police haven’t in any other case publicly named him.
A decide ordered “pre-trial detention for 5 counts of homicide and a number of counts of each tried homicide and inflicting grievous bodily hurt,” Magdeburg’s police division stated in an announcement issued in German on Sunday morning.
Candles and flowers sit in entrance of the Christmas market early Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Magdeburg, Germany, after a automobile drove right into a crowd on the market on Friday, Dec. 20.
Sebastian Kahnert/AP
The police assertion listed the ages and gender of the 5 folks killed, saying they had been a 9-year-old boy, and 4 ladies, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75.
At the least 200 extra folks had been injured on Friday when a automobile plowed into festive market-goers within the japanese German metropolis, round 75 miles west of the capital Berlin, in keeping with Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff.
At the least 41 of these injured within the assault are in critical situation, in keeping with police. Their lives are nonetheless considered at risk, in keeping with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
A suspect — a physician from Saudi Arabia aged round 50 — was arrested, Haselhoff stated. The person has lived in Germany since 2006. A rental automobile was used within the assault, the minister stated.
A police officer guards the Christmas Market, the place a automobile drove right into a crowd on Friday night, in Magdeburg, Germany, on Sunday morning, Dec. 22, 2024.
Michael Probst/AP
The primary emergency name got here in at 7:02 p.m. native time and the driving force was stopped inside three minutes of the assault, in keeping with a police official. Police consider the suspect entered through the area left open for emergency automobiles to entry the realm.
Police stated they consider the suspect acted alone. The prosecutor stated they’re nonetheless clarifying a motive behind the assault.
Germany’s Inside Minister Nancy Faeser advised reporters on Saturday that it was “clear to see” that the suspect had “Islamophobic views.”
Police stated the suspect has undergone bodily and psychological exams, however police don’t but have the outcomes.
The Magdeburg Christmas market will likely be closed for the rest of the season, police advised reporters Saturday.
ABC Information’ Victoria Beaule, Emily Shapiro, Aaron Katersky, Meredith Deliso, David Brennan and Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report.
