German police arrested a Saudi Arabian man after a deadly car-ramming attack on a Christmas market Friday in which an SUV barrelled through a crowd of revellers at high speed, leaving a trail of bloody carnage.

At least two people were killed, one of them a young child, and 68 injured, said authorities in the city of Magdeburg, located about 130 kilometres (80 miles) southwest of Berlin.

The suspect was a 50-year-old medical doctor from Saudi Arabia living in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, said regional premier Reiner Haseloff, speaking at a scene cordoned off and guarded by police commandos.

"We have arrested the perpetrator, a man from Saudi Arabia, a doctor who has been in Germany since 2006," he told reporters, calling the attack a "catastrophe" for the city and the country.

"From what we currently know he was a lone attacker so we don't think there is any further danger."

German media partially named the suspect as Taleb A. and said he was a doctor of psychiatry.

The black BMW barrelled through the crowd at high speed just after 7:00 pm local time (1800 GMT) when the market was filled with revellers.

Video footage showed the driver's arrest as police with their handguns trained shouted "lie down, hands on your back, don't move!" at the bearded man with glasses who was lying on the ground next to the heavily damaged car.

Police said the vehicle drove "at least 400 metres across the Christmas market" leaving a trail of bloodied casualties, debris and broken glass at the city's central town hall square.

Ambulances and fire engines rushed to the chaotic site, which was doused in blue police lights and wailing sirens, as badly injured people were treated on site and rushed off to hospitals.

Cries and screams rang out as around 100 emergency responders deployed to the litter-strewn market decorated with Christmas trees and festive lights.

"The pictures are terrible," said city spokesman Michael Reif.

Series of attacks

The deadly carnage recalled a 2016 jihadist attack in which a Tunisian man driving a lorry killed 12 people in a Christmas market in Berlin, the country's worst such attack.

A 13th victim died later having suffered serious injuries in the assault, claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that "the reports from Magdeburg raise the worst fears".

"My thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand by their side and by the side of the people of Magdeburg. My thanks go to the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours."

Scholz was expected to travel to the city on Saturday, said the state premier.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has recently called on people to be vigilant at Christmas markets, although she said that authorities had not received any specific threats.

Domestic security service the Office for the Protection of the Constitution had warned it considers Christmas markets to be an "ideologically suitable target for Islamist-motivated people".

Germany has in recent times seen a series of suspected Islamist knife attacks.

Three people were killed and eight wounded in a stabbing spree at a street festival in the western city of Solingen in August.

Police arrested a Syrian suspect over the attack that was claimed by IS.

In June, a policeman was killed in a knife attack in Mannheim, with an Afghan national held as the main suspect.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote that "the anticipation of a peaceful Christmas was suddenly interrupted" in the attack but he cautioned that "the background to the terrible deed has yet been clarified".

The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, which has focused on jihadist attacks in its campaign against immigrants, wrote on X "when will this madness stop?"

The Saudi government expressed "solidarity with the German people and the families of the victims", in a statement on social media platform X, and "affirmed its rejection of violence".

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "profoundly shocked" by the attack and that he "shares the pain of the German people".

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned the "brutal attack on the defenceless crowd" and Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez voiced his sorrow at the "terrible attack".

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241221-saudi-man-arrested-after-deadly-car-attack-on-german-christmas-market

First time seeing a Saudi man on crime scene

Modified: I'm sorry guys, it's a terrorism attack. But that doesn't change the fact that you need to avoid driving when you're drunk.

In this festive season, please avoid over drinking if you are using the steering. Not just for the sake of your family but for the innocent victims.

Merry Christmas ⛄🎁💝🎅

In case anyone needs a (human written) content writer, kindly check my signature for my contact info.

Christmas is meant to be peaceful, joyful and full of merry, all around the world for Christians and non-Christians alike, but somehow, an Arab with a Muslim background decided to destroy it in Germany.

The bible said "watch, be careful and pray", Christians, anyone, watch and be careful of the next Muslim or Arab next door.

Liberal Europe should keep on housing Muslims. They don't know that they're shooting themselves or should I say they're slowing poisoning themselves.

The problems caused by Muslim community in this world is just to much. In their country they caused problems, in another man's country they caused problem.

The only good and trusted Muslim, probably is a dead one. When I say things like this people say that it's because of my hate for Islam? With all these nonsense problems caused by Muslim folks around the world which rational being will like them?

Recently, Lekki central mosque provoked the whole christian community by placing a banner with a bold written word " JESUS CHRIST IS NOT GOD" The christians allowed it to slide without a single blood bath. Can the christian community did the same by placing a banner in any of the churches boldly written "MUHAMMAD IS NOT A PROPHET OF ALLAH?" The way these blood thirsty demons will start riot and start killing christians especially where they outnumbered the christians will be something else. We know what would've happened by now in far north and nothing will happened. You'll still see their illiterate terrorist lawyers wearing wig to come and defend the act.

God bless Israel forever for always giving them overdose of their trouble.

MadamVanessa:

Recently, Lekki central mosque provoked the whole christian community by placing a banner with a bold written word " JESUS CHRIST IS NOT GOD" The christians allowed it to slide without a single bloodbath. Can the christian community did that by placing a banner in any church and boldly written " MUHAMMAD IS NOT A PROPHET OF ALLAH" the way this blood thirsty demons will start riot and start killing christians especially where they outnumbered the christians will be something else and nothing will happened, you'll still see their illiterate terrorists lawyers wearing wig to come and defend the act.

God bless Israel forever for always giving them overdose of their trouble.

Shut up! As if they posted only that banner there!
There were several banners there!

Show us where "Muhammad is not the Prophet of Allah" exist in your Bible?

What is posted exists in the Qur'an!
Tell us your problem!

Good for him

I don't know why people of certain sect delight in such activity.
It's horrible

this is evil.

AntiChristian:


Shut up! As if they posted only that banner there!
There were several banners there!

Show us where "Muhammad is not the Prophet of Allah" exist in your Bible?

What is posted exists in out Qur'an!
Tell us your problem!

you always sound dumb.

you need to get educated on religion, Christianity and Jesus Christ.

do you at all think? how do you expect a true life documentary or documentation that came into existence nothing less than 600 years before muhammed and quran to write something about your muhammed and his allah?

you and your deluded leaders would rubbish the Bible only to return, using it to back up islam (e.g. Jesus promised the His followers the coming of a comforter in the personality of the Holy Spirit), all you guys could do is claim muhammed is the holy spirit Jesus promised.

unknowing to you guys the Holy Spirit promised by our Lord Jesus Christ is already dwelling with us. truth is the Bible wrote a lot about you guys and this evil you guys are practicing.

AntiChristian:


Shut up! As if they posted only that banner there!
There were several banners there!

were other banners pro-islam or anti-islam? every other banners posted there were pro-islam and not anti-islam hence no one has a reason to complain since they aren't provocative in any form. this particular banner was provocative more than enough. mind you, if you post anything volatile you will be called out needless it been religious or not, anything that can bring social chaos.

get sense and stop forming religious rascality on nairaland.

Islam is not a godly religion, it is a concocted idolatry laced with abrahamic divinity.

The perpetrator was anti-islam

Why are the jihadist killing innocent people.
A country that welcome you almost 20 years and this is how you express gratitude. It shall never be well with Muslim jihadist.

This is an act of terrorism. He should be locked up for life.

MadamVanessa:


Liberal Europe should keep on housing Muslims. They don't know that they're shooting themselves or should I say they're slowing poisoning themselves.

The problems caused by Muslim community in this world is just to much. In their country they caused problems, in another man's country they caused problem.

The only good Muslim, is a dead Muslim. When I say things like this people say that it's because of my hate for Islam? With all these nonsense problems caused by Muslim folks around the world which rational being will like them?

This was not done by Muslim. The man hates Muslim, he is pro-israel. He did these because Europe allowed Muslims in.

MadamVanessa:



Recently, Lekki central mosque provoked the whole christian community by placing a banner with a bold written word " JESUS CHRIST IS NOT GOD" The christians allowed it to slide without a single bloodbath. Can the christian community did that by placing a banner in any church and boldly written " MUHAMMAD IS NOT A PROPHET OF ALLAH" the way this blood thirsty demons will start riot and start killing christians especially where they outnumbered the christians will be something else and nothing will happened, you'll still see their illiterate terrorists lawyers wearing wig to come and defend the act.

God bless Israel forever for always giving them overdose of their trouble.

Seriously in love with all your comments. Forward your aza make i run you some cash for dis Xmas

Send this jihadis back to where they belong

purge them from the west

Every one of them in Nigeria should be in Somalia practicing Sharia

DynamicWriter:
Probably a result of being drunk. Because no one in his sane mind will intentionally drive through a lot of crowd.

In this festive season, please avoid over drinking if you are using the steering. Not just for the sake of your family but for the innocent victims.

Merry Christmas ⛄🎁💝🎅

In case anyone needs a (human written) content writer, kindly check my signature for my contact info.

They called it an attack, not an accident. Pretty sure he wasn't drunk and it was targeted...

Bloody Islamic terrorists.Israel knows the right dose for them.

DynamicWriter:
Probably a result of being drunk. Because no one in his sane mind will intentionally drive through a lot of crowd.

In this festive season, please avoid over drinking if you are using the steering. Not just for the sake of your family but for the innocent victims.

Merry Christmas ⛄🎁💝🎅

In case anyone needs a (human written) content writer, kindly check my signature for my contact info.

is it drunk people that detonate suicide bombs?

or is it that suicide bombs are unintentionally detonated?

zombieHUNTER:



Send this jihadis back to where they belong

purge them from the west

Every one of them in Nigeria should be in Somalia practicing Sharia

Id***ot. This was not done by Muslim. The man hates Muslim, he is pro-israel. He did these because Europe allowed Muslims in

Disgruntled terrorist

AntiChristian:
It may be a mistake o but they will give it some kind of religious coloration!

The stampede in Ibadan too was caused by one Saudi man from Oyo State!

It

rottennaija:


Id***ot. This was not done by Muslim. The man hates Muslim, he is pro-israel. He did these because Europe allowed Muslims in

Saudi man is an Israeli

Very good

Useless religion with a pedophile as a rapist. They need to be all dealt with asap

temitope27 post=133384669[b:
]First time seeing a Saudi man on crime scene[/b]

Please, is Osama not from Saudi Arabia?

Research......

It is in their genes

DynamicWriter:
Probably a result of being drunk. Because no one in his sane mind will intentionally drive through a lot of crowd.

In this festive season, please avoid over drinking if you are using the steering. Not just for the sake of your family but for the innocent victims.

Merry Christmas ⛄🎁💝🎅

In case anyone needs a (human written) content writer, kindly check my signature for my contact info.

Go and watch the video at the scene and come back and type again

islamabad

Fun fact:
- He is an EX-MUSLIM
- He is in love with Jews and Israel.

It's attacks like this that cause people to hate on Muslims. Especially when fellow muslims and leaders will not condemn these actions.