Police say they arrested the suspect at the scene, describing him as a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia who arrived in Germany in 2006.
At least five people have died and more than 200 have been injured after a car drove into a Christmas market in Germany, the country’s chancellor has said.
The BMW ploughed into crowds shopping at the market in the city of Magdeburg on Friday evening. One of the casualties was a nine-year-old child, police have confirmed.
The suspect has been named as Taleb A in German media, although this has not been confirmed by German authorities.
Police said they arrested him at the scene, describing him as a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia who arrived in Germany in 2006.
He is a practising doctor and specialist in psychiatry, and was living in Bernburg, around 25 miles south of Magdeburg, they added.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser said it is “clear to see” he had Islamophobic views, speaking to reporters at the scene on Saturday.
At a news conference there on Saturday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed the number of those killed and injured and offered his sympathies to their families.
He described it as an “awful crime” and “terrible tragedy”, adding: “I’m here as the chancellor of Germany. We are here to stand together. We have to stand together. We have to show our solidarity with the families of the victims.
“Thank you to all those who helped and my sympathy and solidarity goes to all family members of the victims and to the city of Magdeburg who is mourning.”
A vigil is being held at the city’s cathedral on Saturday evening, he added.