MAGDEBURG, Germany — Germany was left in mourning on Saturday after an individual intentionally drove into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing at least five people, including a child, and injuring over 200 others.

Authorities arrested a 50-year-old man at the scene on Friday evening. Identified by local media as Taleb A., the suspect, a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, had lived in Germany for nearly two decades, practicing medicine in Bernburg, south of Magdeburg.

Witness accounts and verified footage revealed the horrifying moments as the car sped through the market, throwing a child into the air and leaving devastation in its wake.

Among the seriously injured, nearly 40 people are in critical condition, according to Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The incident has prompted the cancellation of several Christmas markets across Germany, while Berlin increased security at its own.

Magdeburg’s mayor and residents expressed profound sorrow, with mourners lighting candles and laying flowers near the scene.

Reports indicate that the suspect held extremist views. A Saudi source told Reuters that Saudi Arabia had previously warned German authorities about his threatening posts on social media.

Taleb A. had described himself as a former Muslim, frequently criticized Islam online, and supported far-right ideologies, including Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Prominent terrorism expert Peter Neumann called the suspect’s profile “unprecedented,” combining extremist rhetoric, far-right sympathies, and activism for Saudi asylum seekers.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry condemned the attack, reaffirming its stance against violence and terrorism.

Chancellor Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser visited Magdeburg on Saturday, attending a memorial service and lowering flags to half-staff nationwide.

The attack struck at the heart of a cherished German tradition. Magdeburg’s Christmas market, a centuries-old celebration, became a scene of tragedy. — Agencies