The local prosecutor’s office head announced on Saturday that the suspect is currently under interrogation and is expected to be charged with murder and attempted murder in the near future. Prosecutor Horst Walter Nopens mentioned that the ongoing investigation indicates a possible motive related to dissatisfaction with the treatment of Saudi Arabian refugees in Germany. The suspected attacker, who has no known ties to Islamist extremism, has been noted on social media for expressing criticisms of Islam.
Footage from the scene depicted a significant emergency response presence with individuals on the ground. Subsequent videos showed armed police apprehending a man near a stationary vehicle. Unverified social media footage suggested a car had driven into the market crowd. Authorities reported that approximately 100 police officers, medics, firefighters, and 50 rescue personnel quickly responded to the scene.
The suspect is believed to have entered the market area through an emergency vehicle access point. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack as a “dreadful tragedy” and expressed deep concern for the injured and deceased. He assured that all necessary resources would be deployed to investigate the perpetrator.
In an interview with German newspaper Bild, a witness named Nadine recounted the harrowing experience of being at the Christmas market during the attack. Another witness, Lars Frohmüller, described seeing blood on the ground and medical personnel attending to the wounded. The suspect was identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a psychiatrist and refugee advocate originally from Saudi Arabia.
Social media posts indicate that the suspect was a vocal critic of Islam and endorsed conspiracy theories. Reports revealed that the Saudi government had raised concerns about Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen’s extremist views to German authorities, but these warnings were reportedly disregarded. However, there are suspicions that the Saudi government may be conducting a disinformation campaign to discredit individuals aiding Saudi dissidents seeking asylum.
During the incident, Magdeburg’s football team was playing against Fortuna Dusseldorf. After the match, the players stood united before their fans in a show of solidarity.
The statement expressed its condolences, saying its “thoughts are with those affected by the terrible events at the Magdeburg Christmas market.” Meanwhile, a minute’s silence was observed at the conclusion of a match between Bayern and RB Leipzig in Munich. Friday’s tragic incident is not an isolated occurrence in Germany when it comes to Christmas markets being targeted.
In 2016, Anis Amri, a Tunisian man who was denied asylum in Germany and had ties to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, carried out a heinous act by driving a truck into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin, resulting in the loss of 12 lives and leaving 49 others wounded. Two years later, a gunman unleashed gunfire at a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France, claiming the lives of five individuals and leaving 11 others injured. The assailant was subsequently neutralized by law enforcement two days later.
Recently, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized the importance of heightened vigilance at these beloved markets, although she noted the absence of specific intelligence pointing to imminent danger. Faeser also highlighted the necessity for stricter regulations concerning weapons in public areas following a deadly knife attack in Solingen, western Germany, in August. This incident, which led to the death of three individuals, reignited an already contentious debate on asylum and migration within Germany.
The scene at the Christmas market was somber on Saturday, with a police vehicle positioned at its entrance as a precautionary measure. Additional details were provided by Frank Gardner.
