Attack on Christmas market: Doctor, anti-Islam, in Germany since 2006 – This is what we know about the Magdeburg attacker

There are dramatic scenes just before Christmas: at least two people, an adult and a small child, were killed in an attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market.

Saxony-Anhalt’s Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff also spoke of a lot of injuries, at least 60. “This is a catastrophe for the city of Magdeburg and for the country and also for Germany in general,” said Haseloff. The police spoke of 15 seriously injured people.

There is a lot of information circulating online about the perpetrator. A lot is unclear.

What we know

• According to initial findings from a 50-year-old doctor, the man is from Saudi Arabia.
• He came to Germany in 2006 and lives in Bernburg, around 50 kilometers south of Magdeburg. According to information from WELT, a police operation is currently taking place at his place of residence.
• According to WELT information from security circles, the alleged perpetrator is said to have worked as a doctor in the penal system in Bernburg. The Bernburg correctional facility is a facility run by the state of Saxony-Anhalt to improve and protect addicted criminals.
• He has a permanent residence permit.
• He was not known to the authorities as an Islamist. “As things stand, he is a single perpetrator, so as far as we can see there is no further danger to the city because we were able to arrest him and all investigations are now underway,” said Haseloff.
• According to Haseloff, the perpetrator drove a rental car into the crowd at the Christmas market.