As the number of casualties keeps rising, the German interior minister has revealed the suspect is Islamophobic. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he's "very worried" about the serious condition of 40 of the more than 200 people injured.
A 50-year-old suspect is being remanded in custody after five people were killed and more than 200 injured in a car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. Saudi Arabian sources say they repeatedly warned Germany about the suspect's "extremist" views.
Interior minister provides update on investigation
Interior minister Nancy Faeser has said the suspect was "clearly ideologically hostile to Islam" as she shared more details on the investigation.
Police are prioritising investigating the details of his background.
"The investigations by the security authorities are in full swing," she said.
"The views and statements made by the [suspect] will be analysed, as will the information and proceedings that were conducted by various authorities and the judiciary.
"It is then important to draw the right conclusions from this."
She said "every stone" was being overturned by federal authorities.
The attack was one of "incredible cruelty and brutality" and "like an Islamist terrorist" attack in method, but the suspect "was clearly ideologically hostile to Islam", she added.
"The task is to piece together all the findings that will provide a picture of this perpetrator, who does not fit into any previous mold."
Musk has questions to answer over suspect's X posts, says German ambassador
The German ambassador to the UK says Elon Musk has questions to answer over why his company, X, did not take action after the suspect's online activity.
Taleb A posted anti-Islamic sentiment, conspiracy theories and threats on the platform, reported the BBC.
Ambassador Miguel Berger told the broadcaster the EU's Digital Safety Act requires social media companies to act but this did not occur.
He said the suspect "was extremely active, threatening on X".
"The question is, 'does X really act against these things?'
"We have a Digital Safety Act in the European Union which requires social media to act... It has not happened."
Elon Musk called for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign and retweeted several accounts broadly criticising the German government in the wake of the attack.
"I think Elon Musk - before giving unwanted advice to German citizens - he should look at the responsibility of his own platform," said the ambassador, noting Musk's endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany.
Far-right misusing attack for electoral gain - despite facts of case, says counter-terror expert
A counter-terror expert has warned the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is attempting to misuse the Christmas market attack for their own ends - despite reports the suspect supported them.
Hans Jakob Schindler, senior director at the Counter Terrorism Project, said the party is trying to take advantage of the attack for electoral gain in February 2025.
The AfD and other far-right European politicians have been quick to jump on reports the suspect was an immigrant.
Yet he was allegedly an Islamophobe who voiced support on social media for the party - and for Elon Musk, who backed the AfD.
"Populism and facts rarely gel in any country so obviously the right wing is trying to take advantage of this," said Schindler.
"Despite him [the suspect] being a fan of the AfD, the AfD makes this into a cause that they try to misuse."
Parties interested in maintaining a democratic society must unite and be honest about what security failures occurred, as well as try to avoid exacerbating polarisation, he said.
"The extremists on either end of the political spectrum, as well as Russia, are doing this already."
Questions need to be answered by the government over warnings it received about the suspect from domestic and foreign sources, he said.
But social media organisations, specifically X, are not off the hook, he said, having cut their content moderation staff.
"They [German authorities] will never be able to police the entire internet. We need those companies to help the security forces [by] highlighting radicalisation processes that they enable with their algorithms, that lead to violence."
Police investigate after man interrupts minute's silence
A minute's silence before a football game for the victims of the Magdeburg attack was interrupted by a spectator shouting "Germany for Germans", reports local outlet Bild.
Police have filed a criminal complaint for incitement at the third division match between Rot-Weiss Essen and VfB Stuttgart II.
Crowds in the stadium shouted at the man as he was escorted out by security: "Nazis out!"
Saudi Arabia repeatedly warned Germany about suspect
Saudi Arabia warned German authorities about the suspect after he posted extremist views on his personal X account, a Saudi source told Reuters.
These warnings were given multiple times since he left Saudi Arabia in 2006, the source said, without going into further detail.
A risk assessment conducted last year by German state and federal criminal investigators concluded the man posed "no specific danger", the Welt newspaper reported, citing security sources.
The president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Munch told German TV station ZDF that a Saudi tip-off, which came in November 2023, related to "unspecific" statements.
Police in Saxony-Anhalt carried out appropriate investigative measures, he said, but it will be examined whether investigators let something slip.
Makeshift memorial grows
A makeshift memorial to the victims of the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg has grown further as mourners added tributes this morning.
Driver used market's emergency service entrance to avoid bollards, says official
In the aftermath of the attack, questions were raised over how the driver was able to enter the Christmas market, given protections put in place since an attack in Berlin in 2016.
Now Magdeburg city's deputy for personnel, citizen services and public order, Ronni Krug, has said the perpetrator used an emergency service rescue route.
The entrance, designed for doctors and firefighters to reach accidents, was not protected by bollards, reports German outlet Bild.
Instead, police forces were stationed there, said Krug.
Defending the concept, he said it had "proven itself over many years".
Far-right protesters demonstrate in Magdeburg
A far-right protest was held late last night in Magdeburg the night after the Christmas market attack,
Approximately 1,000 demonstrators gathered in a central square in the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt.
A banner with the word "Remigration" and so-called homeland flags could be seen during the demonstration.
There were some minor scuffles with the police, according to local media reports.
Experts warned yesterday that right-wing groups could attempt to exploit the tragedy for their own ends.
Shortly following the attack, social media accounts alleged the perpetrator was an Islamist terrorist without any evidence.
The German interior minister later identified the suspect as being Islamophobic himself.
Nine-year-old boy among dead
A nine-year-old boy is among the five people killed by the Christmas market attack, Magdeburg police have said.
Police have also released details of the adults killed:
- A 45-year-old woman
- A 52-year-old woman
- A 67-year-old woman
- A 75-year-old woman
205 people were injured and 41 are in a serious condition, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying he was "very worried" about the condition of almost 40 people.
A 50-year-old suspect has been remanded in custody after appearing before a judge yesterday evening.
He is being investigated for five counts of suspected murder and 205 counts of suspected attempted murder, prosecutor Horst Walter Nopens said.
A memorial service took place in Magdeburg for the victims yesterday.
At least five people were killed and more than 200 others injured when a car ploughed into crowds shopping on Friday evening.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, interior minister Nancy Faeser and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier were in attendance.
Mr Scholz described it as a "moving moment of compassion and solidarity for a deeply affected city".
German football also paid tribute to the victims with silences before Bundesliga games on Saturday evening.
Of those injured, 41 are said to be seriously hurt, and authorities have warned the number of dead could rise.
The suspect has been named by German media as Taleb A, with his surname being withheld in line with privacy laws, although the name has not been confirmed by German authorities.
Hundreds of far-right protesters also gathered in Magdeburg on Saturday evening. Some were pictured carrying a banner reading "remigration".
German media has named the suspect in the attack as Taleb A, although this has not been confirmed by German authorities.
The suspect is known to be a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who was living in Germany and is being questioned by police.
In a news conference this afternoon, German officials said the suspect's dissatisfaction at the treatment of Saudi refugees in Germany may have been a factor, but did not comment further on a possible motive.
However, Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told reporters it was "clear" the suspect was "Islamaphobic".
What we know about the suspect so far
The suspect in the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg appeared to be dissatisfied with the treatment of Saudi refugees in Germany, a prosecutor has said.
On Friday evening, a car was driven at speed into visiting crowds in the central German city.
Five people have died so far - including a nine-year-old child and four adults - with 200 more injured, according to authorities. Of those injured, 41 are said to be seriously hurt.
The suspect - who was arrested at the scene - was a 50-year-old Saudi citizen who worked as a doctor and arrived in Germany in 2006, premier of Saxony-Anhalt state Reiner Haseloff said.
He has been named as Taleb A in German media, although this has not been confirmed by German authorities.
German football pays tribute to Magdeburg victims
German football has paid tribute to the victims of the Magdeburg attack with silences before Bundesliga games this evening.
Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg players are pictured below holding a minute's silence in Leverkusen.
“There are always more important things than football,” Freiburg coach Christian Guenter said.
Earlier, the Deutsche Fussball Liga (DFL), which runs the Bundesliga, issued a statement saying it recommended silences were held and that players wear black armbands as a tribute.
"In these difficult hours, our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends," the DFL said.
"We wish the injured a quick recovery."
'The whole of Germany stands with the people of Magdeburg'
The German chancellor has said the whole of Germany "stands with the people of Magdeburg".
Olaf Scholz attended a memorial service at the city's cathedral this evening for the victims of yesterday's attack.
In a post on X, he described it as a "moving moment of compassion and solidarity for a deeply affected city".
"The whole of Germany stands in these dark hours with the people of Magdeburg," he wrote.
Germany's interior minister says people can keep going to Christmas markets
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has said she believes people can continue to go to Christmas markets in Germany.
She told German broadcaster ZDF authorities are looking at where security measures and police presence at the markets needs to be heightened.
Therefore, she said she believed people could keep going, but stressed it was up to individuals "to judge for themselves" whether they wanted to.
Questions are being raised in Germany about the security measures in place at the Christmas market in Magdeburg prior to yesterday's attack.
Several weekend Christmas markets have been cancelled as a precaution and out of solidarity with Magdeburg.
Friday's attack came eight years after a failed Tunisian asylum seeker with Islamist links drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 13 people and injuring many others.
Pope sends message of support to German president
Pope Francis has sent a message of support to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier following yesterday's attack in Magdeburg.
In the message, released by the Vatican, the Pope said he was "shocked by the news of the attack".
He also said he "thanks all those who are working and supporting the victims in this difficult time".
Five people were killed in Friday's attack and 200 were injured.
'We can't find words to describe how traumatised we are'
Residents in Magdeburg have told Sky's Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins they are "shocked" and "traumatised" by yesterday's attack.
One woman said she "can't find words to describe how traumatised we are".
"We need a lot of time to process what happened," she said.
She added she wanted to attend this evening's memorial service at Magdeburg Cathedral to "show solidarity" with others in the city and "feel collective support".
"In such a tragedy the only thing that can help us to absorb and to process everything is to be around each other and to show our solidarity, not just with words but actions."
The woman, who is originally from Syria, says she is concerned that "such incidents are used to polarise people".
"We have faith in the awareness of our local community here in Magdeburg and in Germany that they will be aware and will not be drawn into political polarisation, hopefully," said.
Germany's chancellor and president were among the mourners at this evening's memorial service.
Far-right protest in Magdeburg
Hundreds of far-right protesters have gathered in Magdeburg.
Images from the Associated Press news agency show a large gathering of people, with German flags pictured in the crowd.
Some demonstrators are seen carrying a sign reading "remigration".
Another image shows a man being taken away by police officers.
A memorial service is currently taking place in the city's cathedral to remember the four adults and nine-year-old child killed in yesterday's attack.
Memorial service in Magdeburg after Christmas market attack
A memorial service is getting under way in Magdeburg Cathedral to pay tribute to the victims of yesterday's attack.
Five people, including a nine-year-old child, were killed when a car was was driven into a busy Christmas market.
The cathedral bells rang out at 7.04pm local time (6.04pm UK time), exactly 24 hours after the attack.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who have travelled to Magdeburg today, are among the mourners.
As is German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Emergency service workers, included firefighters, are also in attendance.
Mourners gather into the evening to lay flowers for Magdeburg victims
Mourners in Magdeburg are gathering into the evening to lay flowers and light candles in memory the victims of yesterday's attack.
Four adults and a nine-year-old child were killed, and another 200 were injured.
A memorial service is due to begin at 7pm local time (6pm UK time) in the city's cathedral.
-SKY NEWS