Rainer Haseloff, Prime Minister of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, revealed that the suspect in the recent Christmas market attack in the state is a "Saudi doctor who has been living in Germany since 2006.
Haseloff told reporters at the scene on Friday: "We have apprehended the perpetrator. Based on what we know so far, he acted alone, so we do not believe there is any further threat to the city.
According to the German newspaper "BILD," the suspect is a doctor named Taleb, 50 years old, residing in the Bernburg area, where he works at a clinic. He has permanent residency in Germany.
The newspaper reported that the suspect drove his rented BMW SUV more than 400 meters through the crowded Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg.
Following this, police officers arrested the driver at an intersection not far from one of the Christmas market entrances. An adult and a young child were killed in the incident.
German emergency services reported that between "60 to 80 people" were injured when the car ran into visitors at the market, noting that several of the injured were in "serious" condition.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the ramming incident at the Christmas market "raises the worst fears.
He added on the platform "X": "All support to the victims and their families. We stand with you and the people of Magdeburg. I extend my thanks to the dedicated rescue workers in these trying hours.
Magdeburg is the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, located about 100 miles west of Berlin.
In turn, the Saudi Embassy in Germany published a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its official page on platform "X," saying: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation of the ramming incident that took place at a market in the city of Magdeburg in the Federal Republic of Germany, resulting in deaths and injuries. It expressed solidarity with the German people and the families of the victims.
It continued: "The Kingdom reaffirms its stance against violence and expresses its sympathy and sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Federal Republic of Germany, government and people, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
It is worth mentioning that Berlin commemorated the eighth anniversary on Thursday of the 2016 Christmas market attack carried out by Tunisian Anis Amri, which resulted in 12 deaths and injuries to dozens.