Death toll rises in German Christmas market attack

Update, 9:05 a.m.: At least five people have died and more than 200 people were injured when a suspect drove into a Christmas market on Friday in Magdeburg, Germany. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said 40 people had serious injuries. Police identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who has lived in Germany since 2006. German media described him as a former Muslim who criticized Islam in social media posts and bemoaned the “Islamism of Europe.”

Initial post, 5:10 p.m. Friday: Police on Friday evening held a suspect after an apparent attack on a Christmas festival in the central German city of Magdeburg. A car was driven into a crowd at the market, killing at least two people and injuring dozens of others, according to Deutsche Welle, a state-owned public German broadcaster.

Do we know anything about the suspect? Reiner Haseloff, the premier for the state of Saxony Anhalt, described the suspect as a Saudi national who police believe acted alone, according to Deutsche Welle. Magdeburg Police later on Friday urged the public to stay away from the market, which they closed.

Dig deeper: Read about news from Germany earlier this week, when Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a no-confidence vote.