At the time, a 24-year-old Tunisian man, who had been denied asylum in Germany and had pledged allegiance to ISIS, drove a truck through a festive crowd, sparking anger and suspicion across Germany towards a recent influx of primarily Muslim immigrants from the Middle East. The current suspect presents a stark contrast. Taleb Al Abdulmohsen, aged 50, originally hailing from Saudi Arabia, had resided in Germany since 2006, working as a consulting psychiatrist at a local clinic. He identifies as an atheist and vocally opposes Islam, referring to himself in a 2019 newspaper interview as “the most aggressive critic of Islam in history.” Abdulmohsen openly supported the German anti-immigration AfD party on social media and voiced frustration with what he perceived as the German government’s lenient stance on immigration and its overly friendly ties with the Saudi regime. Recent communications from Abdulmohsen contained threats, with one from August suggesting a willingness to retaliate if Germany attempted harm. He frequently expressed disdain for Islam, accusing Germany of seeking to “Islamize Europe.”
Reuters news agency published an image of the suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, sourced from the US-based activist group RAIR Foundation USA. However, for many residents of Magdeburg, the atypical profile of the latest Christmas market assailant is of little consequence. “Our politicians are to blame for this,” remarked a local woman named Barbara to CNN, expressing her condolences near police cordons. “I believe those who commit these acts should be dealt with sternly,” she added. A nearby resident named Tom concurred, stating, “The time has come to secure our borders.”
Politicians across the ideological spectrum in Germany have utilized the car-ramming incident to criticize the coalition government. Despite their differing political views, both sides share a skepticism of mass migration. Left-wing party leader Sahra Wagenknecht questioned Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on why numerous tips and warnings had seemingly been disregarded beforehand. Meanwhile, the right-wing AfD, which has gained significant traction recently, has scheduled a rally in Magdeburg for Monday evening, with the party’s parliamentary leader calling for a special session to address security concerns following the attack.
This dreadful and fatal assault on a Christmas market, allegedly perpetrated by an individual openly opposed to Islam, is exacerbating Germany’s hostile anti-immigrant sentiment. For the latest CNN updates and newsletters, users can visit CNN.com and create an account.
