Germany is in mourning after at least five people were killed and over 200 injured in an attack on a crowded Christmas market.
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00:00Flowers and candles cover the ground near a Christmas market in eastern Germany,
00:06where on Friday night, tragedy struck.
00:09A man rammed an SUV into the crowded market in Magdeburg,
00:13killing at least five people and injuring more than 200.
00:18A three-minute attack that shocked the country.
00:21What a terrible act it is to injure and kill so many people there with such brutality.
00:29And that's why, as Chancellor, I want to ensure the solidarity of the whole country
00:34and all those who are responsible in Germany in this matter.
00:38That goes to the bottom of my heart.
00:41And we will and we must stand together here.
00:44High-level German officials attended a memorial event near the market on Saturday,
00:49with large crowds gathering outside.
00:55The suspect, who was arrested at the scene,
00:57has been identified by local media as Taleb al-Abdul Mohsen,
01:01a 50-year-old medical doctor from Saudi Arabia,
01:04who had been living in Germany for nearly two decades.
01:08Officials have not identified a motive, but he is thought to have acted alone,
01:12and some local officials are saying it could have to do with Taleb's frustration
01:17with how Germany has handled refugees from Saudi Arabia.
01:21He was active on social media, where he shared anti-Islamic posts
01:26and promoted conspiracy theories that Germany is spreading Islam in Europe.
01:32We can only say for now that the perpetrator was obviously Islamophobic.
01:37We can confirm that.
01:39Everything else, whether it's in further investigations, we have to wait and see.
01:45The attack has also prompted far-right protesters to gather in Magdeburg,
01:49calling for the re-migration or forced return of immigrants to their home countries.
01:55Meanwhile, prosecutors say the suspect will pay a heavy price.
02:01The status of the charge would be a five-time murder,
02:06because we have five dead,
02:10and a 205-times attempted murder.
02:15The Christmas market, now surrounded by police tape,
02:18will be closed for the rest of the holiday season.
02:21Other local Christmas markets have ended early out of solidarity for the victims,
02:25with increased security at those that remain open.
02:29John Su, Cadence Caronta, and Eric Gao for Taiwan Plus.