Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian doctor, has been accused of driving into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing four women and a nine-year-old boy. He has been remanded into custody as investigations continue. Al-Abdulmohsen bypassed security measures in place to prevent such attacks and drove through the crowded market, injuring 200 people. Witnesses described how he drove the rental vehicle at speed into the narrow alley, knocking down scores of people. Authorities are looking into whether he intentionally disabled the car’s emergency braking system to maximize impact.
Al-Abdulmohsen has expressed discontent with the treatment of Saudi Arabian refugees in Germany and has aligned himself with far-right movements such as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. He first entered Germany in 2006, sought asylum in 2016, and worked as a specialist in psychiatry at a clinic in Bernberg. His erratic behavior and inflammatory online activity have drawn attention from authorities and NGOs.
Officials are still investigating his motives, with some speculation that his actions may have been driven by a sense of dissatisfaction with the treatment of Saudi Arabian refugees in Germany. The attack has highlighted the challenges for security officials in monitoring and preventing lone wolf attacks. Despite expressing anger towards German authorities in the past, Al-Abdulmohsen’s actions took many by surprise, as he was not previously considered a threat.
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