The doctor accused of driving a car into a crowded German Christmas market has apologised to the family of a nine-year-old boy who was killed.
The suspect, named Taleb A in line with German privacy laws, is accused of murdering five women aged between 45 and 75 years old and a nine-year-old boy during the attack, which lasted just over a minute on 20 December 2024.
The 51-year-old Saudi-born defendant is also charged with attempting to murder 338 people and injuring 309 during the attack in Magdeburg, which is 150km (93 miles) southwest of Berlin.
Prosecutors claim that during the rampage, which began at 7.02pm, Taleb A’s rented BMW reached speeds of up to 29mph (48kph) as it crashed into crowds enjoying the festivities on the final Friday before Christmas.
On the first day of the trial, the defendant blinked back tears during his 90-minute testimony as he talked about Andre Gleissner, the child he’s accused of mowing down.
Taleb A said he remembers having a vision of a child as he was driving through the market.
He wept in the bulletproof glass box, built for his security in the specially-erected courtroom, and apologised to Andre’s parents.
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The boy’s father was present for the first day of the trial after travelling from southern Germany, according to German media.
Earlier in the day, prosecutors spent more than two hours reading out the charges, which included horrific details of the injuries caused to both survivors and victims.
The suspect was seen repeatedly blowing his nose as the court heard descriptions of the aftermath of the attack, including survivors being left with brain injuries and a pregnant woman giving birth prematurely.
Dressed in a blue T-shirt and black top, former psychiatrist Taleb A stated his testimony of the evening would take “hours if not days”.
He began his defence by talking about French philosopher Voltaire and criticising “left-wing media”.
During his initial opening, he jumped between topics, reeling off wide-ranging allegations against the Berlin police, the former German interior minister Nancy Faeser, and even former chancellor Angela Merkel.
He also rejected an assessment by a forensic expert that he is a narcissist.
“I don’t want other foreigners to be disadvantaged because of what I did,” the defendant told the court, as he switched between displays of remorse and discussions of political conspiracy.
Some of the plaintiffs turned their bodies away from the defendant as he made his speech.
Others sat with their heads in their hands, refusing to look at Taleb A, as he ranted about the “left-right wing” divide, migration and refugee organisations.
At the time of his arrest, officials said he was an “untypical” attacker with the then interior minister alleging he was Islamophobic.
A refugee from Saudi Arabia, Taleb A described himself as an “ex-Muslim”.
His social media pages, which he posted on in the hours leading up to the attack, promoted anti-Islam views – and claimed Germany was allowing the “Islamisation of Europe”.
He also showed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AFD), suggesting they were both fighting to protect Germany.
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The trial is due to continue on Tuesday with the defendant answering questions from the court. The case is currently scheduled to run until March.
If found guilty, Taleb A could face a life sentence.
