As relatives and officials gather for a memorial service for the victims of the deadly attack on a Christmas market in eastern Germany, we ask what’s known about the Saudi man who has been arrested and what might have motivated him. Also on the programme: why the US is sanctioning Pakistan's long range missiles; and the ultra-orthodox Jewish sect in Guatemala that has just been raided by the authorities for mistreating women and children. (Photo: Memorial service after attack at Magdeburg's Christmas market, Germany Credit: FILIP SINGER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
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Hello and welcome to NewsHour from the World Service of the BBC.
Coming live from London, this is Owen Bennett Jones.
Now, German officials say the man accused of driving into crowds at a Christmas market in Magdeburg is Taleb al Abdelmhsen, a 50 year old Saudi doctor living in Germany since 2006.
He has a track record of being very critical of Islam.
He killed five people.
It's not clear why.
He is alive and under arrest.
So maybe that will become clear at some point.
And certainly Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said the investigation will be thorough.
No stone must be left unturned in this investigation, and that is how it will be.
We have all assured each other of this, the federal government, with the state, with all those who have responsibility at a local level here.
And of course, we must understand the perpetrator, his actions, his motives, so that we can respond with the necessary criminal and other procedures.
And we will.