German Christmas market attack suspect in custody under murder charges
The man suspected of driving a car through crowds at a German Christmas market is in custody on murder charges, police said Sunday.
On Friday, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a resident of Germany originally from Saudi Arabia, allegedly rammed a car into a busy holiday market in the German city of Magdeburg.
Five people were killed, including a young boy, and more than 200 people were injured.
The suspect is a 50-year-old psychiatrist and has a history of anti-Islamic rhetoric, Reuters reported.
While the motive for the attack remains unclear, police are being criticized for not heeding the warning signs he expressed online.
On social media, the suspect has been a critic of Islam, and prosecutors argue he was critical of how Germany treated Saudi refugees, CNN reported.
Police said in a statement early Sunday that they had an arrest warrant for murder and multiple attempted murder.
“The judge ordered pre-trial detention for five counts of murder, multiple attempted murder and multiple counts of dangerous bodily harm,” German police said.
Police confirmed that a 9-year-old boy and four women were killed in the attack.
President Biden issued his condolences for the attack, noting that no community and no family should “have to endure such a despicable and dark event,” particularly during the holiday season.
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