The first details about the identity of the criminal who drove a car into a crowd of people at a Christmas market in Magdeburg have been revealed. According to German media, this man is a doctor who lives in Bernburg and works in a clinic. He came from Saudi Arabia.
On Friday evening, a car crashed into a crowd of people at the Magdeburg Christmas market. Officials believe that it was an attack. The suspected criminal was arrested.
Tamara Zishang, Minister of Internal Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt, said that the detained suspect is 50 years old and a doctor. He is from Saudi Arabia and has been living in Germany since 2006 and has a permanent residence permit. This man lived and worked in a clinic in Bernburg, about 35 kilometers from Magdeburg.
READ MORE: The moment the alleged attacker was arrested in Magdeburg. Record
According to the report of the “Spiegel” weekly website, the individual who was arrested after the attack was born in the Saudi city of Hufuf. Taleb A. – because according to “Spiegel” this is the name of the criminal – worked legally and had an indefinite work permit. By profession, he is a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, “Spiegel” wrote.
– As confirmed, the criminal is a doctor who lives near Magdeburg, – said Dominik Napiwodzki from the German-Polish Society of Saxony-Anhalt in the “Day by Day” program on TVN24. – It is clear that the authorities did not monitor him for any radicalism, and this is the biggest shock and surprise, – he added.
Emergency services in MagdeburgFILIP SINGER/PAP/EPA
Victims of the attack on the Christmas market
Magdeburg city authorities published information about the victims of the attack on their website. According to the information confirmed by the rescue services, two people were killed and 15 people were seriously injured.
Another 37 people received moderate injuries and 16 others received light injuries. According to the prime minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Rainer Haseloff, the dead were an adult and a small child.
READ ALSO: Driver drives into crowd at Christmas fair in Germany. 2 people died
The “Spiegel” website quoted that a total of 100 firefighters and 50 rescuers were involved in the rescue operation.
Main photo credit: FILIP SINGER/PAP/EPA
