GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET ATTACK: DEATH TOLL RISES TO 5, HUNDREDS INJURED

The death toll in the terror attack at an eastern German Christmas market has risen to five after a man identified as Taleb Al, a Saudi-born psychiatrist, drove a rented black BMW into the crowd. The incident injured more than 200 people, with 40 in critical condition, according to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Videos circulating on social media show the vehicle speeding into the crowded market. However, officials have yet to verify the authenticity of the footage. Witnesses reported that the BMW drove about 400 meters towards the town hall, striking market visitors along the way.

Among the victims who died was a toddler. According to the U.K. Times, emergency tents were set up to manage the influx of injured people.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, providing first aid amid chaos and panic. Reiner Haseloff, the leader of Saxony-Anhalt, described the aftermath as “reminiscent of a war zone.”

Taleb Al, the 50-year-old suspect from Saudi Arabia, had been living in Germany since 2006 and was granted refugee status in 2016. He worked as a psychiatrist at a prison facility in Bernburg. Reports indicate that initial tests showed Al was under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack.

In a 2019 interview, Al described himself as “the most aggressive critic of Islam in history” and sought asylum to escape threats in his home country. He was also known for assisting former Muslims, particularly women, in fleeing Saudi Arabia.

Media reports revealed that Al was active on social media, frequently sharing videos and posts critical of Islam. In one video uploaded hours before the attack, he accused German authorities of seizing his belongings and blamed German citizens for the persecution he faced.

Saudi authorities had previously warned Germany about Al’s extremist online activities. However, German officials had no record of his involvement in radical Islamic activities.

The attack shocked the public, especially as the vehicle managed to bypass market security barriers. Security expert Stephen White noted that the incident bore the hallmarks of a lone-wolf terrorist attack.

Several cities across Germany canceled their weekend Christmas markets as a precaution and to show solidarity. Local authorities assured the public that Al acted alone and posed no further threat.

World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and the U.S. government, expressed their condolences over the incident.