During a visit to the market earlier on Saturday, Scholz described the attack as a “horrible tragedy” because “so many people were injured and killed with such brutality” in what should be a “joyful” place.
He told reporters he was deeply concerned about those who were seriously injured and that “all resources” would be devoted to investigating the suspect in the attack.
Earlier, Saxony-Anhalt Prime Minister Rainer Haselow said a preliminary investigation indicated the alleged attacker acted alone.
Prosecutor Horst Walter Knoppens said on Saturday that the investigation was ongoing, but suggested that one possible motive for the attack “could have been dissatisfaction with the way refugees from Saudi Arabia are treated in Germany”.
