MAGDEBURG, Germany — A dramatic moment unfolded Friday night in Magdeburg as German police arrested Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a Saudi doctor suspected of driving his car through a packed Christmas market, killing five people and injuring over 200 others.
Footage obtained by the AP shows officers aiming their guns at al-Abdulmohsen, who had crashed his BMW into the market and was crouching behind his wrecked vehicle. The officer shouted commands before the 50-year-old laid face down on the street, his hands behind his back. A bystander helped flag down emergency vehicles, and soon more officers arrived to assist in apprehending the suspect.
Al-Abdulmohsen, who fled Saudi Arabia in 2006 and gained refugee status in Germany in 2016, is believed to have posted extremist views on social media. He had lived and worked as a doctor and psychotherapist in Germany. Saudi authorities had reportedly warned German officials about his potential threats.
The attack began around 7:04 p.m. when al-Abdulmohsen drove through the gap of two safety bollards and accelerated through the crowded market. Surveillance footage captured the car speeding through the market, leaving behind chaos and devastation. Victims were seen lying on the ground, and others were seen fleeing or helping the injured.
Among the dead were an adult and a child. Forty-one individuals were critically injured, 86 were treated for serious injuries, and another 78 sustained minor injuries. Witnesses recalled horrific scenes, including a woman who cradled a man with an open fracture and watched as a child was revived.
Despite the chaos, witnesses reported seeing first responders, including medics and firefighters, rush to the scene to assist victims. “It’s a big shock. It’s a big shock for every person here in Magdeburg,” said Lars Frohmüller, a reporter for MDR.
The motives for the attack remain unclear, and authorities are continuing their investigation. As of now, officials have stated that there is no ongoing danger to the city. Saxony-Anhalt’s governor, Reiner Haseloff, expressed his condolences, calling the attack a “terrible tragedy.”