The deadly attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday evening has raised serious concerns over missed warnings and missteps in handling the suspect, a Saudi national identified as Taleb Al Abdulmohsen.
The incident, which left at least five people dead, including a child, and over 200 injured, has drawn scrutiny over how German authorities responded to prior alerts from Saudi Arabia and private citizens.
Reports reveal that Saudi officials had warned Germany multiple times about Al Abdulmohsen, highlighting his extremist views expressed online. The warnings included requests for extradition and evidence of his radical beliefs, but German authorities reportedly did not act on these alerts. Despite being convicted in 2013 for threatening public safety, Al Abdulmohsen was allowed to remain in Germany due to fears that he could face execution if returned to Saudi Arabia. He obtained protected status in 2016, enabling him to stay in the country.
Conflicting narratives about the suspect’s motivations have further complicated the case.
Legacy media in Germany and abroad, including New Zealand, initially portrayed him as an ex-Muslim atheist and an anti-Islamist, as well as supporter of Germany’s popular right wing party the AfD, citing his public “renunciation of Islam” and ideological confusion on social media.
Critics of the official narrative question why a so-called ‘anti-Islamist’ would target a Christian event.
Why would a genuinely anti-Muslim man attack a Christmas market?
Stop being so gullible
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) December 21, 2024
However, independent accounts suggest he was a radical Shia Muslim who intentionally spread misinformation about his religious affiliations to sow confusion, a tactic some associate with Taqqiye, a concept in radical Islam allowing deception to advance religious goals. Videos of the suspect during his arrest reportedly show him shouting “Allahu Akbar,” contradicting claims of his anti-Islamist stance.
Magdeburg Prosecutor Horst Nopens speculated that the attack might have been motivated by dissatisfaction with Germany’s handling of Saudi refugees. However, other sources argue the act was an Islamist terror attack, noting accusations that the suspect abused ex-Muslim women and harboured plans for mass killings, which were allegedly reported to authorities but ignored.
The suspect now faces charges of five counts of murder and over 200 counts of attempted murder.
Despite claims made by the German press, Taleb Al Abdulmohsen is not an ex-Muslim atheist, nor is he a fan of the AfD or Elon Musk. While he may have spread this misinformation himself, it aligns with the practice of Taqqiye, an Islamic doctrine that permits lying and deception… pic.twitter.com/tU2tRS51Lr
— Maral Salmassi (@MaralSalmassi) December 21, 2024
The Saudi man who drove into a crowded Christmas market is not Islamophobic. He is not far right. He literally yells “Allahu Akbar” in footage of him being confronted by police. Women have come forward saying he abused them for being ex-Muslims. His social media is a mess of…
— Ani O’Brien (@aniobrien) December 22, 2024
Is it just me sitting here thinking why have we let these crazy towel heads into the West?