Saudi doctor accused of Xmas market car attack in Germany makes his first court appearance

The accused perpetrator of a terrifying Christmas market massacre in Germany that killed at least five and injured hundreds has made his first appearance in court.

The Saudi doctor accused of ramming his car through a busy German Christmas market in Magdeburg has appeared before a judge and faces multiple counts of murder, attempted murder and causing dangerous bodily harm.

The 50-year-old man named in media reports as Taleb al-Abulmohsen – who shared anti-Islam views online – appeared before the judge on Saturday night local time and police said in a statement: “The judge ordered the pre-trial detention for five counts of murder, multiple attempt murder and multiple counts of dangerous bodily harm”.

Police have also pleaded for people to come forward with information including eyewitness accounts and to provide any videos from the horror attack that occurred on Friday night.

Five people were killed, including four women aged 45, 52, 67, 75 years and a nine-year-old boy, while another 200 people were injured.

Taleb Jawad Al Abdulmohsen had lived in Germany since 2006 and held a permanent residence permit, working in a clinic near Magdeburg. Picture: AFP

Christmas markets attract huge crowds in Germany and are one of the most popular events on the nation’s calendar.

Heavy police presence swarms the Magdeburg Christmas markets which remain closed and on Saturday night clips were shared on social media of people protesting against mass immigration in Germany.

The alleged perpetrator migrated to Germany in 2006 and was raised a Muslim but later abandoned his religion after he became a fierce critic of it.

He was arrested by police at gunpoint on Friday night local time shortly after he allegedly drove through the Christmas markets causing carnage at the popular festive gathering.

City official Ronni Krug said of the 200 people injured 41 were seriously or very seriously hurt.

It is also understood he was a supporter of the right-wing political party AfD and staunchly opposed immigration in Germany – notably Muslims – and made a series of Islamophobic posts on social media.

Emergency services, police and firefighters attend the scene in Magdeburg. Picture: Heiko Rebsch / Getty

The tragedy struck the eastern German community, about 150km southwest of Berlin, about 7pm local time on Friday night.

Many people are still trying to come to terms as to why anyone would speed through the markets killing five people, including a nine-year-old child and four women aged 42, 52, 67 and 75 years. The attack also left more than 200 people injured.

Remnants of the attack remain strewn across the markets’ walkways after the male driver of a BMW had ploughed through the popular markets in the centre of the city which has a population of about 230,000 people.

Ina Nowak has firmly etched in her mind the horrifying screams coming from Magdeburg’s popular Christmas markets as many people lay critically injured.

Magdeburg residents Ina Nowak, 45, and her mother Heidi Nowak, 77, attend St John's Church after the Christmas market attack. Picture: Sophie Elsworth

The Magdeburg resident joined thousands of people outside St John’s Church on Saturday evening, opposite the now cordoned-off markets, to pay her respects to those harmed in the horrifying attack.

“We were totally shocked and angry,” Ms Nowak, 45, told News Corp on Saturday as she fought back tears.

“The screams were very loud, there were people everywhere and police.

“There was no way out, it was scary”.

People lay flowers at a makeshift memorial near the site of the attack. Picture: AFP

Ms Nowak was walking to the markets shortly after the tragedy took place and saw bodies lying on the ground and people rushing to attend to others injured in the horrifying event.

She attended St John’s Church with her mother Heidi, 77, to place several lit candles among a sea of flowers, cards and handwritten notes left at the front entrance to the church.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the media: “At this point, we can only say for sure that the perpetrator was evidently Islamophobic – we can confirm that.

“Everything else is a matter for further investigation and we have to wait.”

The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Magdeburg on Saturday and he condemned the “terrible, insane” brutal attack.

Unverified footage has been shared on social media showing attendees at the market jumping out of the car’s path as it sped through the bustling crowds.

Firefighters attend a church service after a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, eastern Germany. Picture: AFP

The driver was able to get through into the market by using a gap kept for emergency vehicles and it sped through the venue running over hundreds of people in the way.

Many people of all ages, from young children to the elderly walked to the outside of the markets while hugging and consoling each other as they looked on in despair at the mess they lay across the markets’ walkways.

Emergency services at work in Magdeburg, Germany, where a car ploughed into Christmas shoppers at a night market. Picture: Craig Stennett / Getty

A special forces officer stands guard where up to 60 people have been injured at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, eastern Germany. Picture: Erik-Holm Langhof / NEWS5 / AFP

Emergency services at the scene of a suspected terror attack at a Christmas market in the eastern German town of Magdeburg. Picture: Heiko Rebsch/dpa

Blankets, chairs, clothing and rubbish from the festive markets remain untouched and under guard by a large cohort of police officers.

There also remains a heavy police presence around the crime scenes and the city centre.

Boguslowie Dost, 61, also a resident of Magdeburg visited the Christmas markets on Friday night only an hour before the attack took place.

She returned to the scene on Saturday evening and she shed tears, struggling to speak.

“It’s not good,” she said.

A one-hour memorial service was held at Magdeburg Cathedral on Saturday evening and was attended by thousands of people.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (C, first row), State Premier of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff (L, first row), German Minister for Transport and Digital Affairs and of Justice Volker Wissing (L, second row), German Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke (R, second row) visit the site of a car-ramming attack. Picture: AFP

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (2R), State Premier of Saxony-Anhalt Reiner Haseloff (R), German Minister for Transport and Digital Affairs and of Justice Volker Wissing (3R) German Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke (4R) and German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (5R) hold white roses as they visit the site of a car-ramming attack. Picture: AFP

A video grab showing special forces in action at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. Picture: Thomas Schulz / Getty

Firefighters and rescue personnel cordon off the area next to a Christmas market, where a car crashed into a crowd injuring dozens of people and killing one. Picture: Doerthe Hein / dpa / AFP

Special forces stand guard among ambulance workers at the scene of an attack in Magdeburg, eastern Germany. Picture: NEWS5 / AFP

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Christmas market attack was “horrific” on social media, saying his “thoughts” are with victims and loved ones.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smart Traveller updated its advice for Germany on Saturday after the suspected terror attack took place.

“There has been a suspected terror incident in Germany, in the town of Magdeburg, with a vehicle driven into a crowd,” Smart Traveller’s warning reads.

“Stay away from the area and follow the advice of local authorities.

“We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in Germany due to the threat of terrorism.”