Investigation into Christmas market assault promised by Germany for security reasons
In the heart of Magdeburg, Germany, a tragic event unfolded on December 20, 2024. A Christmas market attack claimed the lives of six innocent souls and left around 300 people injured. The suspect in this heinous act was Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia.
Al-Abdulmohsen had been known to both Saudi and German authorities to some extent. Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia issued multiple warnings about him to German authorities prior to the attack [2]. However, the details of these warnings remain undisclosed.
Al-Abdulmohsen had a complex background, involving asylum issues in Germany and connections with Islamist individuals. He had publicly advocated for asylum for Saudi ex-Muslims, as seen in his 2019 BBC appearance [5]. In Germany, he resided in Halberstadt and was connected with another Saudi Islamist, Ahmad A., whom he met online in 2016.
Before the attack, Al-Abdulmohsen had made online death threats and had trouble with the law in the past. News magazine Der Spiegel reported that the Saudi secret service had warned Germany's spy agency BND about a tweet from Al-Abdulmohsen a year ago, in which he threatened that Germany would pay a "price" for its treatment of Saudi refugees [6].
In the aftermath of the attack, German authorities are investigating what information was available to security services about Al-Abdulmohsen ahead of the attack. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has vowed to thoroughly investigate the matter [7]. Surgeons at overwhelmed hospitals have been working tirelessly to treat the injured, with one health worker describing the scene as "blood on the floor everywhere, people screaming, lots of painkillers being administered" [8].
Political leaders have also weighed in on the matter. Mina Ahadi, chairwoman of the group Central Council of Ex-Muslims, labeled Al-Abdulmohsen as a psychopath who adheres to ultra-right conspiracy ideologies, stating that he had been terrorizing them for years [3]. Conservative CDU lawmaker Alexander Throm criticized the Scholz government for failing in terms of internal security [4]. Mass-circulation daily Bild called for sweeping reforms after the election for a complete "turnaround in internal security."
The far-right AfD called for a special session of parliament, while the far-left BSW party's head, Sahra Wagenknecht, demanded that Interior Minister Nancy Faeser explain why many tips and warnings were ignored beforehand [9]. Dirk Wiese, senior MP from Scholz's Social Democrats, announced that the heads of the BND, the domestic intelligence service BfV, and the Office for Migration and Refugees will be summoned for hearings on December 30th [10].
The attack resulted in the death of four women, a nine-year-old child, and injured 205 people. Al-Abdulmohsen, who called himself a "Saudi atheist," had criticized Germany for its treatment of Saudi refugees and its immigration policies towards Muslim refugees [11]. He also backed far-right conspiracy theories about the "Islamization" of Europe [12].
The attacker did not fit any previous pattern, as he acted like an Islamist terrorist but ideologically was an enemy of Islam. This tragic event has sparked a nationwide debate about internal security, immigration policies, and the handling of intelligence information. The investigation continues as Germany seeks to understand the motives behind this horrific act.
References:
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- The attacker, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, had a background connected to both science (psychiatrist) and health-and-wellness (advocated for asylum for Saudi ex-Muslims), politics (criticized Germany's immigration policies and government), and crime-and-justice (involved in threats and trouble with the law).
- The tragic event at the Magdeburg Christmas market, causing health-and-wellness issues (injuries and fatalities), has prompted mental-health discussions (nationwide debate about internal security, immigration policies, and intelligence information handling).
- In addition to the general-news surrounding the Magdeburg attack, political leaders from various parties have weighed in with their opinions, including concerns about crime-and-justice (far-right AfD, far-left BSW, and CDU lawmaker Alexander Throm) and health-and-wellness (Mina Ahadi, chairwoman of Central Council of Ex-Muslims).
