Summary

The suspect in the deadly Christmas market car attack in Magdeburg, Germany, has been identified as Taleb A., a 50-year-old Saudi doctor and ex-Muslim who voiced Islamophobic views and supported the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The attack killed five people and injured 200.

Authorities believe Taleb was motivated by anti-Islam sentiment, criticizing German tolerance toward Islamists and claiming the government targets Saudi asylum seekers.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser confirmed his Islamophobia but said further investigation is ongoing.

Taleb has also faced prior legal disputes over defamation.