German Christmas market attack: Everything we know as 200 injured and five die after BMW 'deliberately' crashes into crowd

People in Germany are reeling after a BMW was driven into a busy Christmas market, killing five people and injuring at least 200 others in what authorities have called a deliberate attack. The death toll rose from two to five on Saturday morning, with a toddler among the dead.

Saxony-Anhalt governor Reiner Haseloff said that more than 200 people in total were injured, many seriously, when a black BMW was driven into the market on Friday evening. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that nearly 40 of them "are so seriously injured that we must be very worried about them".

The incident happened in the eastern German city of Magdeburg on Friday evening, and prompted several other German towns to cancel their weekend Christmas markets as a precaution and out of solidarity with Magdeburg's loss. Magdeburg is a city of about 240,000 people, west of Berlin, that serves as Saxony-Anhalt's capital.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been one of the many to speak out saying: "I am horrified by the atrocious attack in Magdeburg tonight. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected. We stand with the people of Germany." Here is what we know so far:

What police have said

The premier of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff told reporters at the scene that the suspect - who has been arrested - is a 50-year-old Saudi citizen who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had worked as a doctor. He was arrested on Friday evening at the site of the attack as medical officials tended to the injured, and was taken into custody for questioning.

Verified bystander footage distributed by the German news agency dpa showed the suspect's arrest at a tram stop in the middle of the road. A nearby police officer pointing a handgun at the man shouted at him as he lay prone, his head arched up slightly. Other officers soon arrived and took the man into custody.

Several German media outlets reported that he was a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy. There have been no answers on what caused the man to drive into the crowd. Mr Haseloff told reporters: "As things stand, he is a lone perpetrator, so that as far as we know there is no further danger to the city. Every human life that has fallen victim to this attack is a terrible tragedy and one human life too many."

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned the attack on X but did not mention the suspect's connection to the kingdom.

What has been reported about the suspect

Describing himself as a former Muslim, it has been reported that the suspect shared dozens of tweets and retweets daily focusing on anti-Islam themes, criticising the religion and congratulating Muslims who left the faith.

He also reportedly accused German authorities of failing to do enough to combat what he said was the "Islamism of Europe". Some have described him as an activist who helped Saudi women flee their homeland. He has also voiced support for the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, media outlets have said. Recently, he seemed focused on his theory that German authorities have been targeting Saudi asylum seekers.

Festive events have been cancelled

The violence has shocked the country and the city, bringing its mayor to the verge of tears and marring a festive event that is part of a centuries-old German tradition.

It has prompted several other German towns to cancel their weekend Christmas markets as a precaution and out of solidarity with Magdeburg's loss.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser were due to travel to Magdeburg on Saturday and a memorial service is to take place in the city cathedral in the evening.

The Chancellor said: "My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. We stand by their side and by the side of all Magdeburg residents. My thanks to all the emergency services in these difficult hours."

Christmas markets have been targeted before

Friday's attack comes eight years after an Islamic extremist drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 13 people and injuring many others. The attacker was killed days later in a shootout in Italy.

Two years later, a gunman opened fire on a Christmas market in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, killing five and injuring another 11 people. The gunman was shot dead by police two days later.

Only last month, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser talked about the need for "greater vigilance" at the highly popular markets - but said there were no "concrete" indications of danger.

Christmas markets are a German holiday tradition cherished since the Middle Ages, now successfully exported to much of the Western world. The attack has reverberated far beyond Magdeburg, with Mr Haseloff calling it a catastrophe for the city, state and country. He said flags would be lowered to half-staff in Saxony-Anhalt and that the federal government planned to do the same.

"It is really one of the worst things one can imagine, particularly in connection with what a Christmas market should bring," the governor said.