On Friday, a car drove into a crowd gathered at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, causing a tragedy that left two people dead and more than 60 injured, according to local authorities. This act, described as an attack by investigators, aroused great emotion in this town in Saxony-Anhalt, located approximately 160 kilometers from Berlin.
What is the profile of the suspect?
The main suspect, arrested by police at the scene, is a man in his fifties, originally from Saudi Arabia. A doctor by profession and aged fifty, he worked in a clinic in Magdeburg.
According to initial information reported by German media Bild et Weltthe man was not known to German police services for any Islamist background or links to terrorist networks. Authorities call him a “lone wolf”
How did he do it?
The suspect allegedly rented a black BMW SUV to commit his act. Around 6 p.m., he drove into the crowd for a distance of 400 meters, zigzagging around the Christmas market after breaking through the security barriers. Witnesses report scenes of panic, the car making sudden maneuvers before being stopped by the police while the suspect attempted a U-turn.
According to several German media, luggage was also found in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Authorities do not yet know whether it contained an explosive device, but the object has been secured for further analysis.
The continuation of the investigation
Reiner Haseloff, the minister-president of the Saxony-Anhalt region, confirmed that the suspect acted alone, with no apparent accomplice. The investigation continues to determine the precise motivations for this act, although the possibility of an attack seems favored.
To read, our file on terrorism
This tragedy occurred as German Christmas markets are regularly subject to increased security measures following several similar attacks in the past. On Friday evening, the entire city of Magdeburg was in shock while reactions from political leaders multiplied across Europe.
