German authorities are investigating a Saudi man, known for his anti-Islam rhetoric, as the suspected driver in a car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. The incident, which occurred on Friday evening, claimed five lives and left over 200 injured, with nearly 40 in critical condition.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, visiting the central city in former East Germany, condemned the attack, calling it a brutal act against innocent people. Scholz laid a white rose at a local church in memory of the victims.
The 50-year-old suspect, identified by German media as Taleb A., was arrested at the scene. Living in Germany for almost 20 years, the Saudi doctor and psychiatrist had previously worked at a rehabilitation clinic for criminal addicts but had been on leave since October.
Investigators searched his home overnight, though the motive remains unclear. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser acknowledged the suspect’s evident Islamophobia but refrained from speculating on the attack’s motivation.
The suspect’s online activity reportedly showcased support for far-right parties, including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), and criticism of Germany’s policies regarding Saudi refugees. In 2019, Taleb A. had appeared in media interviews discussing his work assisting Saudi and ex-Muslim refugees.
Saudi officials revealed they had repeatedly warned Germany about the suspect’s extremist views on social media, which allegedly threatened peace and security. However, a risk assessment last year concluded that he posed “no specific danger.”
