Christmas market attacker ‘who killed four women & 9-year-old boy’ flanked by armed cops to face murder charges in court
THE suspected German Christmas market attacker has been hauled into court by armed cops as he faces five murder charges.
The 50-year-old Saudi doctor, named by local media as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, was arrested at the Magdeburg market after he allegedly went on a deadly three minute rampage.
He is accused of causing the tragic deaths of four women aged 45, 52, 67 and 75 as well as a nine-year-old boy.
Along with the five counts of murder he is also being investigated over 205 counts of suspected attempted murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm, prosecutor Horst Walter Nopens said.
Officials are still fearing the number of deaths could rise with 41 of those injured still in a serious condition.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the people of Magdeburg yesterday that he is still “very worried” over their health.
Footage captured the moment the man believed to be al-Abdulmohsen was transported from a police van and led into Magdeburg District Court late last night.
He appeared to be wearing an orange jump suit with a grey jumper and white top.
At least six armed officers flanked behind the alleged killer who had his hands cuffed behind his back.
The judge ordered he remained in custody on the multiple severe charges.
It comes as…
- Five confirmed dead, including one nine-year-old boy
- Over 205 injured with dozens in a critical condition
- Suspect named as Saudi doctor Taleb A
- Taleb was allegedly under the influence of drugs when arrested
- Driver went on 3 minute rampage
- Police issue UK terror warning over fears of “copycat strike”
- Harry Kane leads tributes to victims
- German authorities ‘warned three times‘ by Saudi about doctor’s plot
The suspect was then taken to a nearby pre-trial correctional facility, Welt reported.
Reports of the market attack were first reported at 7.02pm local time on Friday when a rental BMW veered off a car-friendly road and onto Breiter Weg – a street designed for tram lines only.
The driver is believed to have hit several pedestrians here at first before quickly turning right onto Alter Markt where many market revellers had gathered.
The car was travelling at up to 40mph when he first rammed dozens of people, horrified witnesses said.
The ground was covered in blood and tinsel as doctors scrambled to treat the injured, onlookers added.
The car went “through people” and sent others “going over it”, a man standing just feet away from the crash added.
Officials say the street had no bollards at its entrance as city authorities had wanted it to be able to be used by emergency services.
After three minutes of devastation the driver stopped and was quickly surrounded by oncoming cops.
Footage showed suspect al-Abdulmohsen speaking to officers as he voluntarily gave himself up and laid on the street before being arrested.
Police later confirmed to German newspaper Bild that three others have also been arrested after seemingly celebrating the heinous attack.
The trio were reportedly charged with “approval of crimes that are likely to disturb the public peace”.
Market organisers released a heartfelt statement on the tragedy yesterday that read: “We are in deep mourning, and our hearts and thoughts are with the victims, relatives and helpers.
“The Christmas market and the world of lights are over.”
German authorities were reportedly warned three times by Saudi Arabia about the doctor’s chilling plot.
Following on from the attack, thousands gathered to mourn the victims along with government officials and emergency service workers at a moving memorial service at Magdeburg Cathedral.
Candles were lit in solidarity with hundreds of flowers and cuddly toys being laid outside in a makeshift mural.
On Saturday night a far-right protest was held in Magdeburg with around 1,000 demonstrators marching through the capital of Saxony-Anhalt.
The night was mainly peaceful but many chose to bring banners with the words “remigration” scrawled across it.
Minor violence was also reported as protesters scuffled with police.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Magdeburg on Saturday to address a large crowd in the heartbroken city.
He described the attack as “a terribly, tragic incident”.
Scholz added: “What a terrible act it is to injure and kill so many people there with such brutality.
“Almost 40 are so seriously injured that we must be very worried about them.”
“It is important that nothing remains uninvestigated, that every stone is turned,” he added.
Who is Taleb al-Abdulmohsen?
THE man suspected of killing five people after ramming them with his car at a German Christmas market is a 50-year-old Saudi doctor.
Ever since he was identified by local media a number of revelations about his past have emerged.
It has been reported that Taleb is an anti-Islam activist who arrived in Germany in 2006 as a refugee from Saudi Arabia, according to Bild.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser confirmed to reporters today that the suspect is Islamophobic.
The doctor is also said to have shared hundreds of strange posts on his social media in the days before the attack.
One allegedly claimed he felt that Germany wanted to “Islamicise” Europe, the newspaper reported.
He is reportedly also a vocal supporter of the hard-Right AfD party.
Taleb has lived in the nearby town of Bernburg – just over 30 minutes from Magdeburg – since fleeing the Middle East.
German media say he became a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy and works in the neighbouring town.
He has been officially recognised as a refugee since 2016, local media say.
German media also say they have spotted Taleb in a BBC documentary back in 2019.