Germany’s interior minister says suspect is an "Islamophobe"

Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called the suspect in Friday’s deadly car-ramming attack an “Islamophobe.”

She gave few other details, but German media have named Friday’s suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi, as Taleb A, and he’s thought to have worked to help fellow Saudis leave their home country.

On social media he appeared to have expressed anti-Islam views and support for the far-right AfD.

Speaking from the city of Magdeburg, where the attack occurred, Faeser said investigations were just beginning.

Friday’s attack, in which at least five people were killed and over 200 injured, has raised questions over how the attacker was able to gain access to the event via car and ram his vehicle into the bustling crowds.

The incident is similar to a 2016 Christmas market terror attack at a market in Berlin that left 13 dead. Security measures at markets across Germany were significantly tightened in the wake of that attack.

German Justice Minister Volker Wissing, speaking alongside Faeser, said that a decision would soon be made whether Germany’s federal prosecutor would lead the case. The office is the country’s highest legal authority and would deal with acts of terrorism.