Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in and had received permanent residency. Authorities say he does not fit the usual profile of perpetrators of extremist attacks. He described himself as an ex-Muslim who was highly critical of Islam and in many posts on social media expressed support for the far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany AfD party. He is being held in custody as authorities investigate him. He also had contact with various authorities, made insults and even threats.
He said that the warnings, however, proved to be very unspecific. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees also said Saturday on X that it received a tipoff about the suspect in the late summer of last year.
But it also noted that it is not an investigative authority and that it referred the information to the responsible authorities. It gave no other details. But now I think he is a psychopath who adheres to ultra-right conspiracy ideologies. Police in Magdeburg, the capital of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, said Sunday that those who died were four women aged 45, 52, 67 and 75, as well as a 9-year-old boy.
Authorities said people were injured, including 41 in serious condition. They were being treated in multiple hospitals in Magdeburg, which is about kilometers 80 miles west of Berlin, and beyond. The suspect was on Saturday evening brought before a judge, who behind closed doors ordered him to be kept in custody on allegations of murder and attempted murder.
He is facing a possible indictment. The horror triggered by yet another act of mass violence in Germany make it likely that migration will remain a key issue as the country heads toward an early election on Feb. A deadly knife attack in Solingen in August pushed the issue to the top of the agenda, and led the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz to tighten border security measures.
