The man responsible for driving into a crowd at the Magdeburg Christmas market, killing five people and injuring over 200, had been on the radar of German authorities since 2013.
Identified as Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, a Saudi doctor, he was fined that year for “disturbing the public peace by threatening to commit criminal offenses,” according to Bild.
In the years leading up to the attack, Saudi Arabia repeatedly warned German officials about al-Abdulmohsen’s extremist views. Holger Münch, president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), confirmed that in November 2023, his office received a tip-off from Saudi Arabia about the suspect. Reports from the BBC state that Saudi authorities sent four official warnings, describing his “very extreme views.”
Despite this, German authorities reportedly dismissed the warnings as “unspecific.” BKA officials noted al-Abdulmohsen had made threats and engaged in hostile behavior but had no prior record of violent actions. However, the suspect had a history of making threats on social media, accusing Germany of promoting the “Islamization of Europe” and expressing intent to use violence.
Saudi media outlets have added conflicting claims about al-Abdulmohsen. Independent Arabia reported that a Saudi woman alerted German authorities last year about his plans to harm civilians, but her warnings went unheeded. Meanwhile, Saudi commentator Salman Al-Ansari alleged that al-Abdulmohsen fled Saudi Arabia after accusations of crimes, including rape and human trafficking, though these claims remain unverified.
Critics have slammed German authorities for failing to act on warnings, calling it a “missed opportunity” to prevent the tragedy. The attack, carried out at the height of holiday festivities, has drawn scrutiny of counter-terrorism efforts and sparked public outcry over perceived lapses in judgment.
