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A local fire brigade has paid tribute to a nine-year-old boy who was killed in an attack at a Christmas market in Germany.
André Gleißner died after a car plowed into a crowd of people at a market in Magdeburg on Friday evening, according to the Schöppenstedt fire department.
In his statement he said he was a member of a children’s fire brigade in Warle, which is an hour’s drive from Magdeburg.
Four women, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75, also died in the attack. The elders are to hold a suspect in custody before trial for murder, attempted murder and accidental injury.
“Our thoughts are with André’s family, who we also want to help us at this difficult time,” said the fire department.
Lower Saxony’s fire brigade has also paid tribute to a nine-year-old boy.
“Our condolences go out to his family, friends and everyone who was close to him,” it said in a statement.
“We stand by their side in these difficult times and express our deepest sympathy,” it added.
The attack on Friday left over 200 people injured, with some seriously injured.
The four women who were also killed have not yet been identified.
The car drove into the busy market through an emergency exit at around 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Friday, police said.
Eyewitnesses described jumping out of the way of the vehicle, running away or hiding. Unconfirmed footage on social media showed the car speeding down the pedestrian walkway between the steps.
Police say the driver went back onto the road and was forced to stop, where he was arrested.
About 100 police, paramedics and firefighters responded to the scene, according to city officials.
A 50-year-old man has been remanded in custody on suspicion of five counts of murder, multiple counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault, police said.
The suspect was identified in local media as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a Saudi-born psychiatrist who arrived in Germany in 2006.
The motive behind the attack is still unknown, but officials say they believe the driver acted alone.
German authorities are facing security questions after reports warned last year that the suspect could pose a threat.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said it had warned the German government about al-Abdulmohsen’s dangerous views, but they did not respond.
