German Christmas market attack – latest: Suspect appears in court as leaders heckled over ‘security failings’
The Saudi doctor accused of driving into a German Christmas market and killing five people has appeared in court, as anger over ‘security failings’ grows.
Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, 50, was remanded in police custody after appearing in front of a judge on Saturday evening.
In a statement, Magdeburg police said: “The judge ordered pre-trial detention for five counts of murder, multiple attempted murder and multiple counts of dangerous bodily harm,” its statement said.
It came hours after politicians were heckled over security concerns as they arrived in Magdeburg on Saturday.
Security at Christmas markets in Germany has stepped up in recent years following a deadly attack in Berlin in 2016, but the attacker was able to gain access on Friday via emergency exit points.
Soon after his arrest, reports also began to emerge that the German authorities had been warned of the suspect but considered him “no specific danger”.
Both sides of the political spectrum have commented on the missed opportunity to stop the attacker, AfD’s parliamentary head demanding a parliamentary session to be held to discuss security issues.
