Shortly after 8:00 p.m. Cyprus time, a black BMW SUV drove at high speed into a crowd gathered at an open-air Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing two people—a man and a child—and injuring fifty others.
Saccagé APRÉS LE PASSAGE D’UNE VOITURE ???? VOUS N’AVEZ PAS HONTE @BFMTV ? #Magdeburg pic.twitter.com/KuPblXYIuf
— Bleu Blanc Rouge ! 🇫🇷 (@LBleuBlancRouge) December 20, 2024
Details of the incident
The driver of the rented vehicle, a 50-year-old Saudi doctor from the nearby town of Bernburg, was immediately arrested. Investigations into his motives are ongoing, and according to Der Spiegel, an Islamist motive is “almost certainly ruled out.”
The suspect, Taleb A., arrived in Germany in 2006 from Saudi Arabia and was granted asylum as a political refugee in 2016. He was a prominent member of the exiled Saudi community in Germany, serving as a contact point for fellow asylum seekers, particularly women. He was active on social media, frequently posting against Islam, especially after 11 November, suggesting he may have felt persecuted in Germany, fearing the country was “being Islamised.”
In recent months, according to RTL, he expressed dissatisfaction with Gulf state policies, supported the Alternative for Germany (AfD), admired Elon Musk, and embraced conspiracy theories. He was not known to authorities as radicalised. Taleb A. worked as a doctor in the psychiatric department of a clinic in Bernburg, about 50 kilometres south of Magdeburg.
Videos of the arrest below:
Police arresting the Attacker 50-year-old Saudi doctor in Magdeburg, Germany#Terroristattack #Germany #Magdeburg #Weihnachtsmarkt #MagdeburgAttack #MagdeburgerWeihnachtsmarkt #festundflauschig pic.twitter.com/JO1nuTLal5
— Chembiyan (@ChembiyanM) December 20, 2024
"Nicht so nah ran" – das hätte böse enden können.
— Felix Anton (@FelixDerik) December 20, 2024
Polizei in #Magdeburg zeigt mal wieder große Kompetenz.
Vielleicht wäre es gut, sich mal von Kurden aus Nordsyrien ausbilden zu lassen? Die wissen wie man mit Attentätern umgeht. pic.twitter.com/Mn4oxmAx3m
Background and reactions
Reports from West German Broadcasting (WDR) revealed that Taleb A. had renounced Islam in the late 1990s. Eight years ago, he wrote to the AfD proposing the creation of an academy for former Muslims.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser are expected to visit Magdeburg in the coming hours. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his shock over the “horror experienced by the visitors to the Christmas market.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte conveyed his support to Chancellor Scholz, and J.D. Vance, the former US Vice President, called it “a horrific attack so close to Christmas.” UN Secretary General António Guterres also expressed solidarity through his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.
President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides and House President Annita Demetriou took to x to state their support.
Deeply shocked and devastated by the horrific attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, leaving many dead and injured. I fully condemn this reprehensible act. During this tragic time my thoughts are with the victims’ families as we stand in solidarity with the people of Germany.
— NikosChristodoulides (@Christodulides) December 21, 2024
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Germany, especially those affected in #Magdeburg.
— Annita Demetriou (@AnnitaDemetriou) December 21, 2024
We stand in solidarity with the injured and with the families mourning their loved ones, so tragically and unjustly taken during this Christmas season.
Europe and the democratic…
Elon Musk, replied to a video of Olaf Scholz on x, replied: “Scholz should resign immediately. Incompetent fool.”
Scholz should resign immediately. Incompetent fool.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2024
Investigations continue
Saxon-Anhalt’s Prime Minister, Reiner Haseloff, stated that investigations are ongoing but noted that “due to the severity of the attack,” the case might be handed over to the federal prosecutor, indicating that the motive could be deemed terrorist-related.
Saudi Arabia expressed its solidarity with the German people and the victims’ families, reaffirming its stance against violence. Der Spiegel described the motive as “mysterious,” reiterating that an Islamist link is “almost certainly ruled out.”
Also read: Nicosia-Athens: We do not accept a Syria-Turkey EEZ
Sources: Der Spiegel/RTL/WDR/ANA-MPA
