Driver kills 2, injures 60 at German Christmas market

A tragic incident unfolded at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, approximately 150 kilometers west of Berlin, where a driver plowed a vehicle into a crowd of festive gatherers, resulting in at least two fatalities, including a young child, and over 60 injuries.

State Premier Reiner Haseloff identified the suspect as a 50-year-old Saudi-born doctor who has resided in Germany for nearly 20 years with permanent residency status. The perpetrator, reportedly named Taleb Abdul Jawad (identified by Der Spiegel as Taleb A.), is a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy who allegedly showed sympathy for Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party.

According to a Saudi source, the kingdom had previously warned German authorities about the suspect's extremist views expressed on his X account. However, German authorities stated the suspect was not known to them as an Islamist. The Saudi foreign ministry has condemned the attack.

Following the incident, police evacuated the area to investigate a potential explosive device, though no such device was found. A separate police operation was conducted in Bernburg, where the suspect reportedly resided.

Eyewitness accounts, including one from a woman identified as Nadine, describe the harrowing scene as the vehicle charged through the market.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his sympathies and is expected to visit the scene with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. The incident occurs amid heightened security concerns at Christmas markets, which have been identified as potential targets for extremist attacks, particularly following the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack that claimed 12 lives.

Authorities have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat, as the suspect has been apprehended. However, officials warn that the death toll could rise given the severity of some injuries.