A 50-year-old Saudi man, identified as Taleb A., has been held in pretrial custody after prosecutors pressed charges of murder, attempted murder, and grievous bodily harm related to a deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Germany. The suspect, who has lived in Germany for nearly two decades, was arrested at the scene following the three-minute attack that killed several people, including a nine-year-old boy and four women.
According to police, authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the attack, but Magdeburg prosecutor mentioned one possible factor: the suspect’s frustration with Germany’s treatment of Saudi refugees. The suspect had criticized Islam and expressed sympathy for far-right parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party that has gained popularity in recent years.
Social media posts verified by Reuters show the suspect’s support for anti-Islam and far-right ideologies. Saudi Arabia had previously warned German security authorities about the suspect. On Saturday evening, far-right protesters marched through Magdeburg, calling for remigration, which reflects the growing political tensions in Germany over immigration and the AfD’s rising popularity.
Flowers continue to be placed at the memorial site in Magdeburg two days after the attack, as the community mourns the victims. The incident has drawn comparisons to a 2016 Islamist-influenced immigrant’s deadly attack on a Berlin Christmas market, highlighting concerns about radicalization and the rise of far-right extremism.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/suspect-german-christmas-market-attack-142954566.html