Germany in Mourning After Deadly Attack on Christmas Market

Germany is in mourning after at least five people were killed and over 200 injured in an attack on a crowded Christmas market.

Transcript

00:00Flowers and candles cover the ground near a Christmas market in eastern Germany,

00:06where on Friday night, tragedy struck.

00:09A man rammed an SUV into the crowded market in Magdeburg,

00:13killing at least five people and injuring more than 200.

00:18A three-minute attack that shocked the country.

00:21What a terrible act it is to injure and kill so many people there with such brutality.

00:29And that's why, as Chancellor, I want to ensure the solidarity of the whole country

00:34and all those who are responsible in Germany in this matter.

00:38That goes to the bottom of my heart.

00:41And we will and we must stand together here.

00:44High-level German officials attended a memorial event near the market on Saturday,

00:49with large crowds gathering outside.

00:55The suspect, who was arrested at the scene,

00:57has been identified by local media as Taleb al-Abdul Mohsen,

01:01a 50-year-old medical doctor from Saudi Arabia,

01:04who had been living in Germany for nearly two decades.

01:08Officials have not identified a motive, but he is thought to have acted alone,

01:12and some local officials are saying it could have to do with Taleb's frustration

01:17with how Germany has handled refugees from Saudi Arabia.

01:21He was active on social media, where he shared anti-Islamic posts

01:26and promoted conspiracy theories that Germany is spreading Islam in Europe.

01:32We can only say for now that the perpetrator was obviously Islamophobic.

01:37We can confirm that.

01:39Everything else, whether it's in further investigations, we have to wait and see.

01:45The attack has also prompted far-right protesters to gather in Magdeburg,

01:49calling for the re-migration or forced return of immigrants to their home countries.

01:55Meanwhile, prosecutors say the suspect will pay a heavy price.

02:01The status of the charge would be a five-time murder,

02:06because we have five dead,

02:10and a 205-times attempted murder.

02:15The Christmas market, now surrounded by police tape,

02:18will be closed for the rest of the holiday season.

02:21Other local Christmas markets have ended early out of solidarity for the victims,

02:25with increased security at those that remain open.

02:29John Su, Cadence Caronta, and Eric Gao for Taiwan Plus.