Germany Christmas market attack: Who is the suspect and how did events unfold?

The attack took place at a Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg. Credit: AP

A deadly attack at a crowded Christmas market in Germany has left the country reeling and authorities attempting to piece together exactly what happened.

Friday's attack on the streets of Magdeburg killed at least five people and injured hundreds more - some seriously - with one arrest since made by police.

The incident has been called a "terrible act" by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and left many people questioning the attacker's motives.

So what do we currently know about the attack? ITV News explains.

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People lay flowers and tributes at a memorial for victims of Friday's attack in Magdeburg. Credit: AP

How did the attack unfold?

The attack took place at a busy Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg on Friday evening at around 7pm local time (6pm BST).

Police arrived on the scene shortly afterwards, with bystander footage - verified by German news agency dpa - showing the moment armed officers confronted and arrested a man suspected of carrying out the attack.

How many people were killed or injured?

As of Saturday evening, at least five people - including a nine-year-old child - have died as a result of the attack, according to German officials.

Around 200 more were injured - dozens of whom remain in a serious condition.

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Who is the suspect?

German authorities have confirmed that a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian man is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and bodily harm.

The man has been identified as Taleb A by several German media outlets, which have withheld sharing his last name in line with the country's strict privacy laws.

It has been reported that the suspect was a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, and has been living in Germany since 2006.

He had been practicing medicine in Bernburg - a town around 25 miles south of Magdeburg, according to officials.

The suspect's X account includes a description of himself as as a former Muslim, and features tweets and retweets focusing on anti-Islam themes and criticism of the religion, while sharing congratulatory notes to Muslims who left the faith.

Additionally, the account includes messages criticising German authorities, saying they had failed to do enough to combat what the suspect called the "Islamism of Europe".

The suspect has also used the account to express support for far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

German police officers and vehicles at the scene of Friday's deadly attack. Credit: AP

Have any motives been identified?

No. As of Saturday, German authorities have not revealed any definitive motive for what might have led to the attack.

Has Germany faced similar incidents before?

In recent years, Germany has been rocked by several incidents that draw resemblance to events in Magdeburg.

Eight years ago, 13 people were killed after an Islamic extremist drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin.

More recently, a knifeman killed three people and injured several others in an attack in the city of Solingen. The assailant was killed days later in a shootout in Italy.

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