Mourners are laying flowers near the scene of the deadly Christmas market attack as investigators puzzle over the motive of the suspect.

Three days after Germany's deadly Christmas market attack in which a Saudi man with anti-Islam views was arrested, both the far-right AfD and counter-protesters were due to hit the streets on Monday in the bereaved city of Magdeburg.

Magdeburg's Christmas market is a sad sight. This should have been the busiest weekend of the season, but the whole area has been cordoned off and all the stands are shut. Police are the only people walking around the boarded-up mulled wine and gingerbread stalls.