A Saudi doctor was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for ​killing six people and injuring hundreds, ramming ‌a rented BMW into crowds at a historic market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg days ​before Christmas in 2024.

The attack shocked ​the country and stirred up tensions over ⁠the charged issue of immigration, months before ​a general election that was held in February ​2025.

The defendant, identified as Taleb A. in accordance with German privacy laws, was a psychiatrist originally from Saudi ​Arabia described by officials as having a ​history of anti-Islamic rhetoric and far-right sympathies.

Prosecutors had charged ‌him ⁠with murdering six people and the attempted murder of hundreds more in an attack they say lasted one minute and four seconds and ​was planned ​over several ⁠weeks. Five women between the ages of 45-75 and a nine-year-old ​boy were killed.

The defendant appears to ​have ⁠acted out of dissatisfaction and frustration regarding the outcome of a civil law dispute and ⁠his ​lack of success in various ​criminal complaints, prosecutors have said, believing him to have acted ​alone.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.