Death toll rises to 5 with over 200 injured in Christmas market attack in Germany

CAIRO – 21 December 2024: In a tragic incident that shook Germany, the death toll in the attack on a bustling Christmas market has increased to five, with more than 200 individuals sustaining injuries, as per statements from State Governor Reiner Haseloff.

The horrifying scene unfolded as a Saudi doctor intentionally drove his vehicle into the Christmas market, targeting festive shoppers. The fatalities include a young child.

Following the attack in Magdeburg on Friday evening, authorities swiftly apprehended a 50-year-old man at the scene and placed him in custody for interrogation.

The suspect has been residing in Germany since 2006, practicing medicine in Bernburg, near Magdeburg, officials confirmed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed deep concern for nearly 40 individuals who sustained severe injuries, emphasizing the critical nature of their condition.

Questions loomed regarding the motives behind the suspect’s actions.

The suspect, who described himself as a former Muslim, frequently shared anti-Islam content on social media, criticizing the religion, and applauding individuals who renounced Islam.

Furthermore, he accused German authorities of inadequately addressing what he perceived as the "Islamism of Europe," aligning himself with far-right ideologies.

Governor Haseloff asserted on Friday that authorities believed the suspect operated alone, leaving the community grappling with the aftermath of this tragedy.