Magdeburg (Germany): A 50-year-old Saudi man has been arrested by German police after a deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. The incident left two people dead and over 60 injured as a speeding vehicle tore through a crowd of revellers. Video footage captured the chaos, prompting swift action by authorities.

Who Is The Saudi Man Behind Attack?

The suspect, identified as Taleb A., is a psychiatrist who had been living in Saxony-Anhalt since 2006. Granted refugee status and permanent residency in Germany in 2016, Taleb was known for his outspoken views. He described himself as "the most aggressive critic of Islam in history" in a 2019 interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Reports indicate he was an atheist who faced persecution in Germany.

Questions have arisen about missed warnings prior to the attack. A viral post on X claims that a Saudi girl in Germany reported to German police in September 2023 about Taleb Abd AlMohsen, alleging he had plans to run people over with his car. Her report was reportedly ignored.

A month earlier, Taleb allegedly tweeted threats to kill 20 Germans, which the same girl flagged to authorities, but this, too, went unheeded. The tragic attack in Magdeburg appears to have fulfilled these threats, reigniting scrutiny over the police’s handling of prior warnings.

German police stated that Taleb acted alone and assured the public that there was no ongoing threat to safety. While authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack, no conclusive findings have been shared. The tragedy has left Germany in shock and mourning, raising serious concerns about public safety and intelligence responses.

Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack

Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemned the attack, expressing its solidarity with the German people. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry declared, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly condemns the incident in Magdeburg, in which a car plowed into crowds, resulting in deaths and injuries to a number of people. The Kingdom reaffirms its stance against violence and offers sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the government, and the people of Germany, wishing the injured a swift recovery.”