The attacker at the Magdeburg Christmas market is said to have threatened prison staff, insulted investigators and repeatedly attracted attention with outbursts of rage.

This is reported by "Welt am Sonntag" citing security sources. They are employees of the correctional facility (JVA) in Dresden, where the Saudi Arabian-born doctor was temporarily imprisoned. The accused, who allegedly killed six people and injured 327 during his rampage on December 20 of last year, is said to have written a letter in March.

According to sources within the judiciary, he verbally abused prison employees and threatened revenge for what he considered poor treatment. Because of the letter, there were fears of an immediate attack on prison staff, but this did not occur. In the letter, he also implied that his hatred of German authorities was the motive for the crime. He was uncooperative during interrogations and refused to contribute to the investigation. Nevertheless, he was considered "fully capable of control and accountability." A spokeswoman for the Dresden Prison explained in response to an inquiry from "Welt am Sonntag" that "for reasons of the privacy rights of prisoners, no statements are made that concern specific personal data of the prisoners." The 50-year-old, who previously worked as a psychiatrist in the Bernburg correctional facility, is currently incarcerated in Leipzig Prison. According to investigators, he was transferred there repeatedly because he repeatedly refused to eat, which weakened him. The Leipzig prison has a prison hospital where he can receive medical treatment. The judiciary in Saxony-Anhalt is currently intensively considering how to organize and secure the trial against him. A task force is supporting the Magdeburg Regional Court, where the attacker is to be charged. No other attack in the history of the Federal Republic has claimed as many victims as the one in Magdeburg. Well over 100 joint plaintiffs are expected. "In the event of an indictment, the judiciary must ensure comprehensive security for all parties involved in the proceedings – including the accused. I am not aware of any building in Saxony-Anhalt that would be suitable for a trial of this magnitude, which is unprecedented in German legal history," Klaus Tewes, spokesman for the Naumburg Public Prosecutor's Office, told "Welt am Sonntag." According to the newspaper, a lightweight hall on a secure site, such as a Bundeswehr barracks or a riot police area, is currently favored. Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor's Office has commissioned the University Institute of Forensic Medicine in Saxony-Anhalt to assess the injuries of victims who required at least 24 hours of inpatient treatment. This is intended to document the severity of the injuries. Some of the injured are still unable to be questioned. Meanwhile, 57 complaints have been filed against officials in the city of Magdeburg, the operators of the Christmas market, and several politicians. The charges include negligent homicide through omission and dangerous bodily harm through omission. "Regardless of the number of complaints, we are already officially investigating whether anyone has committed any of these offenses. However, our priority is to clarify the crime," explained Senior Public Prosecutor Tewes. He assumes that the accused is likely criminally responsible.