Saudi Arabia 'warned Germany' over Christmas market massacre suspect's 'extremist views'
WATCH: Member of state Parliament shares Germany's reaction to Christmas market attack
GB News
Saudi Arabia claims that it “warned Germany” of the Christmas market massacre suspect’s “extremist views” ahead of the atrocious attack.
A nine-year-old and four adults died and over 200 people were injured after a car drove into festive revellers at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg.
Scholz said at the scene yesterday: “What a terrible act it is to injure and kill so many people there with such brutality.”
He added that almost 40 of those wounded were “so seriously injured that we must be very worried about them”.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that his thoughts were "with the victims and their families"REUTERSSaudi Arabia has now claimed that it warned Germany that the suspect held “extremist views”.
Sir Keir Starmer said he was “horrified by the atrocious attack”, adding: “My thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected.
He added: “We stand with the people of Germany.”
Police arrested a suspect, 50, who is a psychiatrist originally from Saudi Arabia, and who has lived in Germany since 2006, according to Reiner Haseloff, the premier of the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
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German media outlets have named the suspect as Taleb A - or Taleb Al Abdulmohsen.
Social media posts made using that name has depicted anti-Islamic views, warned of Germany's Islamisation, and complained over "persecution".
Additionally, he outwardly supported the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
On Saturday night, thousands of protestors took to the streets of Magdeburg calling for mass deportations, holding up signs which read: “Remigration now!”
On Saturday night, thousands of protestors took to the streets of Magdeburg calling for mass deportations, holding up signs which read: “Remigration now!”
REUTERS
Many people took to the city to pay their respects to those who died during the horrendous attack, with families and local residents struck with grief visiting the Magdeburg Cathedral, as well as the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the German capital.
The attack on Friday took place during just three minutes, after which the suspect was arrested at the scene.
Authorities believe that the suspect drove through emergency exit points to access the Christmas market, before he accelerated into the crowds, hitting more than 200 people in a three-minute attack.
Magdeburg prosecutor Horst Nopens theorised that a factor which might have played a part in the suspect's motivation was his frustration with Germany's treatment of Saudi refugees.
He had made several media appearances during 2019, detailing his work to support Saudi Arabians who had fled to Europe after rejecting Islam.
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