Magdeburg christmas market attack deaths rise to six

A woman has died after being hit by a man who drove a car at a Christmas market in Germany last month, bringing the total number of people killed in the attack to six.

The 52-year-old died in hospital two weeks after the car plowed into a crowded market in Magdeburg, prosecutors said.

At least 299 people were injured in the attack on 20 December, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of the Interior of Saxony-Anhalt.

Four other women between the ages of 45 and 75, and nine years old Andre Gleißner he was also killed.

The head of the Federal Victims’ Commissioner Roland Weber told the German press that about 531 people may be disappointed or lose their property because of the attack.

50-year-old Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was arrested at the scene, but the suspect’s identity remains unknown.

He has lived in Germany since 2006 and is described as a Saudi psychiatrist who lived about 50km (30 miles) south of Magdeburg, in the town of Bernburg.

Abdulmohsen received asylum in 2016 and ran a website aimed at helping other former Muslims fleeing persecution in the Gulf.

In numerous online posts, Abdulmohsen expressed anti-Islamic sentiments and supported the conspiracy theories of the “Islamization” of Europe.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said it was “clear that the suspect has Islamophobic views”.

“The criminal does not fit into any old category. Every stone will be turned here,” he said.

Abdulmohsen has been ordered to be detained for murder, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.

The police believe that he did it alone, but the German authorities they are facing questions about security and what they know about the suspect accused of using the emergency vehicle ramp to enter the market.

They are also making inquiries after being tipped off last year about the suspect, while police say they assessed him as a potential threat a year ago.

A source close to the Saudi government told the BBC that it had sent four reports known as “Notes Verbal” to German officials, warning them of what they said were “dangerous ideas” carried out by Abdulmohsen.

However, a counter-terrorism expert told the BBC that the Saudis may be launching a campaign against a man who tried to help young Saudi women find asylum in Germany.