The suspected perpetrator of the deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Eastern Germany, was reportedly "dissatisfied" with the treatment of Saudi refugees in the country, local authorities said on Saturday.
At around 19:00 on Friday evening, a SUV suddenly ploughed through the local Christmas market in Magdeburg, hitting pedestrians over a stretch of 400 metres. Five people have now been confirmed dead by German media, including a nine-year-old child. Over 200 are said to have been injured, according to Belga News Agency.
German media have identified the suspected perpetrator as Taleb A. The 50-year-old is of Saudi origin and has been living in Germany since 2006. He is a medical doctor practising in Bernburg, near Magdeburg, and holds refugee status. He was not known for having ties with jihadist movements.
Local prosecutor Horst Walter Nopens stated that the investigation into the attack is ongoing, but "it seems the crime might have been driven by dissatisfaction with the way Saudi refugees are treated in Germany."
The police confirmed that the suspect acted alone.
Following Friday's attack, Belgian Christmas markets are on alert. Local police in Brussels are following OCAM's recommendations but are prepared to adjust their security plans if needed. Security measures include both undercover and uniformed officers, as well as physical barriers, said Commissioner Linda Camarero-Verde.
"We have both plainclothes and uniformed squads attending Plaisirs d'Hiver/Winterpret. Security measures have also been taken at various points around the event. These include flower boxes and other physical obstacles," said Camarero-Verde.
