The man accused of killing five people and injuring more than 200 others by ramming a car into a crowded German Christmas market had a history of making anti-Islam statements, which had grown increasingly dark and threatening towards Germany in recent months.

At least five people are now known to have been killed in the vehicle-ramming attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg on Friday.

A short video of the incident posted on X and geolocated to the city of Magdeburg in eastern Germany showed a vehicle speeding through a large group of shoppers.