The deadly rampage at the Magdeburg Christmas market on 20 December 2024 shocked the whole of Germany. The perpetrator Taleb al Abdulmohsen was arrested at the scene and on Friday was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The 51-year-old was found guilty of six counts of murder and 338 counts of attempted murder, as well as causing grievous bodily harm. He was ordered to be detained for the purpose of preventing reoffending.
During the trial, Abdulmohsen admitted to driving the BMW X3 compact SUV through the crowd but denied deliberately running people over. Prosecutors described that claim as preposterous.
The vehicle reportedly reached a speed of 48 kilometres per hour (30 miles per hour) during the rampage that killed a nine-year-old boy and five women aged between 45 and 75.
According to the Office of the Attorney General, the doctor from Saudi Arabia had planned the attack well in advance and was not motivated by ideology.
