The suspect arrested in connection with the bloody car attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg was an Islamophobic, Interior Minister Nancy Feser confirmed to reporters, quoted by Reuters, BTA reported.
"This is obvious", she commented to media representatives. Feser refused to give specifics about the man's political affiliation. Today, the Interior Minister visited the Christmas market in Magdeburg, a city in central Germany, once part of the former GDR, where last night's attack took place, together with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The death toll in yesterday's attack on a busy Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg has risen to five, while the injured are over 200, the regional premier said, quoted by the agencies.
“We have five dead and over 200 injured at the Christmas market in the city. The suspect, who was arrested that evening, is a doctor from Bernburg who came from Saudi Arabia. He is known as an activist who criticizes Islam,“ said the Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Rainer Haseloff.
According to DPA, the 50-year-old suspect, who has lived in Germany since 2006 has described himself as a former Muslim. Haseloff said the site "will forever remain connected to the history of Magdeburg." "It will be remembered as a memorable place for the history of the city," he added, during a visit to the scene. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also arrived at the scene of the incident.