Deaths rise to six in attack on Magdeburg Christmas market

Federal Commissioner for Victims Roland Weber told German media that as many as 531 people may have been traumatized or suffered economic losses as a result of the attack.

Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, 50, was arrested at the scene, but the alleged attacker’s motives remain unclear.

He has lived in Germany since 2006 and is described as a Saudi psychiatrist who lived about 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Magdeburg, in the city of Bernburg.

Abdulmohsen was granted asylum in 2016 and ran a website aimed at helping other former Muslims flee persecution in their Gulf home countries.

In many online posts, Abdulmohsen strongly expressed anti-Islamist views and support for far-right conspiracy narratives about the “Islamization” of Europe.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said it was “clear to see” that the suspect held “Islamophobic” views.

“The perpetrator does not fit into any previous classification. Every stone will be turned over here,” he said.

Abdulmohsen has been remanded in custody on charges of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.

Police believe he acted alone, but German authorities face questions about security and what they knew about the suspect accused of using an emergency vehicle access lane to enter the market.

They are also answering questions after reports that they were warned last year about the suspect, and police said they had assessed whether he could be a threat a year ago.

A source close to the Saudi government told the BBC it had sent four official notices known as “Verbal Notes” to German authorities, warning them about what they said were Abdulmohsen’s “very extreme views.”

However, a counterterrorism expert told the BBC that the Saudis may have been mounting a disinformation campaign to discredit someone who tried to help young Saudis seek asylum in Germany.