India has denounced the horrific attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, which claimed five lives and injured over 200 people, describing it as a ‘senseless’ act.
In an official statement on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “We condemn the horrific and senseless attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. Several precious lives have been lost, and many have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims.”
Three of the seven Indian nationals injured in the incident were recently discharged from the hospital.
At least five people, including a child, died and more than 200 others were injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd inside the Magdeburg Christmas market on Friday evening.
Additionally, MEA stated that the Indian Mission in Germany has been actively working with injured Indians and their families, providing them with all the support they may need.
“Our Mission is in contact with Indians who are injured, as well as their families, and rendering all possible assistance,” said the ministry.
Taleb, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor who has permanent residency in Germany, has been arrested by police as the suspected driver.
The premier of the state where Magdeburg is located, Saxony-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff, confirmed the arrest and gave the people assurances that they would be secure. “As things stand at the moment, we are talking about a lone offender, which means there is no further danger to the city because we were able to arrest him,” Haseloff told the media.
According to reports, Taleb, who has been in Germany for approximately 20 years, rented the BMW that was used in the incident. German police later verified that no explosives were discovered in the car, despite initial doubts that there was an explosive device inside.
A spokesperson for a rehabilitation clinic in Bernburg, specialising in treating criminals with addictions, confirmed that the suspect had been employed there as a psychiatrist.
The spokesperson did point out, though, that he had been off from work since October because of illness and vacation time.
According to media reports, verified postings on the suspect’s X account showed that he supported far-right and anti-Islamic organisations, such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The tweets additionally criticised Germany’s strategy for dealing with Saudi refugees.
The suspect’s ‘Islamophobia’ was described as obvious by German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who did not elaborate on his possible motivation.
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