Authorities in Germany were reportedly warned about the suspect behind Friday’s fatal Christmas market attack months before the tragedy occurred. However, officials stated they did not identify a “concrete threat.”
The attack, which took place in the city of Magdeburg, claimed the lives of four women and a nine-year-old boy, leaving 41 people seriously injured among the 200 victims.
The suspect, identified as Taleb A., a Saudi Arabian asylum seeker and former medical professional, remains in custody and is under investigation for murder, attempted murder, and bodily harm.
Warnings Ignored
According to Der Spiegel, Saudi Arabia’s secret service issued three warnings about Taleb A. to Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) in 2023 and 2024.
The warnings highlighted social media posts in which he expressed dissatisfaction with Germany’s refugee policies and suggested the country would “pay the price” for its alleged mistreatment of Saudi refugees.
Despite these alerts, the State Criminal Police Office in Saxony-Anhalt determined no imminent threat. The magazine reported that authorities did not act further on the intelligence, but details of the warnings remain unclear.
A Complex Profile
Taleb A., who had been granted permanent residency in Germany, was known for his vocal opposition to Islam on social media. He reportedly criticised Germany for accepting what he deemed the “wrong” refugees while failing to support Saudi women adequately.
The 50-year-old had worked as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist at the state-owned Salus clinic in Bernburg, assisting criminals with addiction issues.
However, he had recently taken extended sick leave, claiming Saudi Arabian secret service agents were following him.
Prominent terrorism expert Peter Neumann described the suspect’s profile as “unprecedented.” Writing on X, Neumann, the director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence, said:
“After 25 years in this business, you think nothing could surprise you anymore. But a 50-year-old Saudi ex-Muslim who lives in East Germany loves the AfD and wants to punish Germany for its tolerance towards Islamists – that wasn’t on my radar.”
Victims and Vigil
Police revealed that the victims included women aged between 45 and 75. A vigil near the attack site saw mourners lighting candles and placing flowers, with many visibly emotional.
As a precaution, several other German towns cancelled their weekend Christmas markets. Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed solidarity with X, stating:
“My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives. We stand beside them and the people of Magdeburg.”
Echoes of Past Tragedy
The attack comes eight years after an Islamic extremist drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 13 people. That attacker was killed days later in a shootout with Italian police.
This latest tragedy has reignited discussions about intelligence sharing and preemptive action to address potential threats, with many calling for a review of Germany’s approach to security warnings.
