Pre-trial detention for Magdeburg Christmas market suspect – DW – 12/22/2024

Magdeburg police said early Sunday that a warrant for pre-trial detention had been issued for the suspect in Friday night’s Christmas market car attack in the city.

Magdeburg’s district court approved an appeal by city public prosecutors in a hearing late Saturday. Police said in a statement,

“The trial judge ordered investigative custody on suspicion of five counts of murder, several counts of attempt to murder and several counts of grievous bodily harm,” police said.

“The accused was accordingly transported to a place of detention,” the brief statement concluded.

The 50-year-old Saudi national, who has been living in Germany since 2006, was arrested soon after the attack on Friday evening. About 200 people were injured in the attack, some of them seriously.

Police: 4 women and 1 boy died in the attack

Police also provided more details about those killed during Friday’s attack.

It said the victims were a 9-year-old boy and four women, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75. In line with German secrecy norms, police did not identify the victims.

A major commemoration was held at the city’s cathedral near the crime scene on Saturday evening, attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other German leaders.

A minute’s silence is observed on weekends to commemorate German first and second division Bundesliga matches.

Security was also increased around Christmas markets across the country following Friday’s attack, with Saturday seeing the highest police presence.

Most German Christmas markets close on December 22 or 23, the day before public holidays.