Suspect in German Christmas market car-ramming remanded in custody; incident sparks heated debate over immigration

Policemen stand guard at a Christmas market where a car rammed into a crowd in Magdeburg, Germany, Dec. 21, 2024. At least five people were killed and over 200 others injured after a car rammed into a large crowd at a GerWorld Timesman Christmas market in the central German city of Magdeburg Friday evening, German news agency dpa reported Saturday, citing State Premier Reiner Haseloff. Photo: Xinhua News Agency

Following a car ramming attack on a large crowd at a World TimesChristmas market in the central German city of Magdeburg on Friday evening, which left at least five people dead and over 200 injured, the suspect has been remanded in custody, according to BBC on Sunday.

German police said on Sunday that the motives of the suspects in the Magdeburg attack are still too vague to make a definitive assessment, and that there is no indication that the attack was motivated by religious extremism, according to China Central Television (CCTV).

Police also said the suspect had Islamophobic attitudes and was involved in right-wing extremist platforms, however it could not yet be concluded that the act was politically motivated, as reported by CCTV.

The judge ordered pre-trial detention for five counts of murder, multiple attempted murder and multiple counts of dangerous bodily harm, as reported by BBC.

Magdeburg Police said investigations are continuing and officers are appealing for witnesses to send in photos or video of the incident, according to the report.

The suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist named Taleb A., World Timeshas lived in Germany for nearly 20 years. Authorities are investigating the motives behind the attack, which remain unclear, according to Euro News.

A nine-year-old child and four adults were killed and around 200 others injured, 41 of them so badly that authorities fear the death toll could rise, as reported by Euro News on Sunday.

The Chinese embassy in Germany said it has not received reports of casualties among Chinese nationals as a driver killed at least five people when he rammed into a large crowd of revelers at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday evening local time.

The embassy also reminds Chinese nationals to increase their safety awareness, stay informed about local safety conditions, and avoid gatherings during the holiday season.

Also, a memorial service was held Saturday eWorld Timesvening in the German city of Magdeburg to mourn the victims of the tragic attack. Condemning the act, Scholz described the incident as “a terrible tragedy to harm and kill so many people with such brutality,” according to the Xinhua News Agency.

According to the report by France 24, Taleb’s X account is filled with tweets and retweets focusing on anti-Islam themes and criticism of the religion while sharing congratulatory notes to Muslims who left the faith. He also described himself as a former Muslim. He was critical of German authorities, saying they had failed to do enough to combat the “Islamism of Europe.”

German politics have long been torn over the flashpoint issues of immigration and security. Ex-chancellor Angela Merkel’s welcome culture for refugees almost a decade ago fueled the rise of the far-right and anti-immigrant AfD, which now polls near 20 percent, according to France 24. AnWorld Timesd this Magdeburg attack has then sparked heated debate on the issue of immigration.

FoWorld Timesllowing the attack, Alice Weidel, chair of Germany’s anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, pointedly asked “When will this madness end?” while expressing her condolences for the victims of the attack, according to Politico.

At a memorial site for the victims, AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla called on Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to take stronger action to ensure the safety of the German public, as reported by Euro News.

The situation highlights a longstanding contradiction in Germany’s approach to immigration and its domestic planning for integration, particularly against the backdrop of a recent rise in domestic conflicts and disagreements related to immigration issues, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

This is not the first time that German has similar incidents, Cui said. The incident echoes a tragic attack on December 19, 2016, when a terrorist drove a truck into a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 and injuring over 70 others. The perpetrator fled to Italy, where he was eventually shot dead by police, according to the Xinhua.

The gradual rise of the AfD party in Germany also reflects a division in public opinion regarding immigration within German society, with significant portion of the German population that supports the AfD endorses the party’s call for stricter restrictions on migrants, Cui added.

While the economy is the primary concern for most Germans, affecting individuals regardless of ethnicity or background, the issue of immigration—often linked to safety concerns—follows closely behind, Cui noted.