As the number of casualties keeps rising, the German interior minister has revealed the suspect is Islamophobic. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says he''s "very worried" about the serious condition of 40 of the more than 200 people injured.

Sunday 22 December 2024 01:24, UK

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Here is an overview of the key lines from today: 

Five people are confirmed to have died, including a nine-year-old child, following Friday night''s attack in the German city of Magdeburg.

Another 200 people were injured, 41 of them seriously. 

A memorial service was held in Magdeburg Cathedral to pay tribute to the victims, with the cathedral bells ringing out exactly 24 hours after the attack. The service was attended by German political leaders, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Hundreds of far-right protesters also gathered in Magdeburg on Saturday evening. Some were pictured carrying a banner reading "remigration".

German media has named the suspect in the attack as Taleb A, although this has not been confirmed by German authorities.

The suspect is known to be a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who was living in Germany and is being questioned by police.

In a news conference this afternoon, German officials said the suspect''s dissatisfaction at the treatment of Saudi refugees in Germany may have been a factor, but did not comment further on a possible motive.

However, Germany''s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told reporters it was "clear" the suspect was "Islamaphobic".

The suspect in the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg appeared to be dissatisfied with the treatment of Saudi refugees in Germany, a prosecutor has said.

On Friday evening, a car was driven at speed into visiting crowds in the central German city.

Five people have died so far - including a nine-year-old child and four adults - with 200 more injured, according to authorities. Of those injured, 41 are said to be seriously hurt.

The suspect - who was arrested at the scene - was a 50-year-old Saudi citizen who worked as a doctor and arrived in Germany in 2006, premier of Saxony-Anhalt state Reiner Haseloff said.

He has been named as Taleb A in German media, although this has not been confirmed by German authorities.

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The German chancellor has said the whole of Germany "stands with the people of Magdeburg". 

Olaf Scholz attended a memorial service at the city''s cathedral this evening for the victims of yesterday''s attack. 

In a post on X, he described it as a "moving moment of compassion and solidarity for a deeply affected city". 

"The whole of Germany stands in these dark hours with the people of Magdeburg," he wrote. 

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has said she believes people can continue to go to Christmas markets in Germany. 

She told German broadcaster ZDF authorities are looking at where security measures and police presence at the markets needs to be heightened.

Therefore, she said she believed people could keep going, but stressed it was up to individuals "to judge for themselves" whether they wanted to. 

Questions are being raised in Germany about the security measures in place at the Christmas market in Magdeburg prior to yesterday''s attack. 

Several weekend Christmas markets have been cancelled as a precaution and out of solidarity with Magdeburg.

Friday''s attack came eight years after a failed Tunisian asylum seeker with Islamist links drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 13 people and injuring many others.

Pope Francis has sent a message of support to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier following yesterday''s attack in Magdeburg. 

In the message, released by the Vatican, the Pope said he was "shocked by the news of the attack".

He also said he "thanks all those who are working and supporting the victims in this difficult time".

Five people were killed in Friday''s attack and 200 were injured.

Hundreds of far-right protesters have gathered in Magdeburg. 

Images from the Associated Press news agency show a large gathering of people, with German flags pictured in the crowd.

Some demonstrators are seen carrying a sign reading "remigration".

Another image shows a man being taken away by police officers.

A memorial service is currently taking place in the city''s cathedral to remember the four adults and nine-year-old child killed in yesterday''s attack.

Mourners in Magdeburg are gathering into the evening to lay flowers and light candles in memory the victims of yesterday''s attack.

Four adults and a nine-year-old child were killed, and another 200 were injured.

A memorial service is due to begin at 7pm local time (6pm UK time) in the city''s cathedral.

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