Tragic Christmas Market Attack in Magdeburg: 5 Dead, Over 200 Injured
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A tragic incident occurred on Friday at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, where a car driven by a 50-year-old Saudi doctor named Taleb A. plowed into a crowd of holiday shoppers. The attack resulted in the deaths of five people, including a 9-year-old child, and injured over 200 others. Among the injured, 41 were reported to be in serious or very serious condition.
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The suspect, a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, had been living in Germany since 2006 and was practicing medicine in Bernburg, about 40 kilometers south of Magdeburg. His social media activity revealed a pattern of anti-Islamic sentiment and support for far-right and anti-immigrant views, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He was known to criticize German authorities for their handling of what he perceived as the "Islamism of Europe".
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The attack has deeply shaken the city and the nation, leading to the cancellation of several Christmas markets as a precaution. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser visited Magdeburg to express their solidarity and support. A memorial service was scheduled to take place in the city cathedral, and flags were ordered to be lowered to half-staff at federal buildings across the country.The suspect was arrested at a tram stop shortly after the attack, where he was found lying prone with a handgun pointed at him by a nearby police officer. The market was cordoned off, and police with machine pistols guarded the area. The incident has brought back painful memories of previous extremist attacks in Germany, including a similar truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market in 2016, which killed 13 people.