Magdeburg Christmas market attacker's hate was no secret
Saudi Taleb A., who drove into a Magdeburg Christmas market on December 20, 2024, had openly expressed hatred toward Christians and Muslims. Five people died, and over 200 were injured. Authorities had known of his radical views for years.
On December 20, 2024, around 7:30 p.m., Taleb A., a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist who has lived in Germany since 2006, drove his BMW into the crowd at the Magdeburg Christmas market. The attack claimed five lives: four women and one man aged 52 to 78. About 200 others were injured, including 17 seriously.
Taleb A. had not hidden his hatred. On the platform X (formerly Twitter), he regularly posted radical content. 'His hate was no secret,' emphasized the Spiegel in its reporting. He sharply criticized Islam, from which he had distanced himself, and accused Christians of hypocrisy. In one post, he wrote: 'Islam is a barbaric religion.' Such statements also targeted German politicians and institutions.
The authorities were not unaware. Taleb A. had come to police attention multiple times. In 2023, he reported threats against himself, but investigations revealed he had made threats. A psychiatric report from 2019 described him as 'potentially dangerous.' Nevertheless, he received a residence permit and worked as a doctor in a Berlin clinic.
In the trial that began shortly after the incident, Taleb A. denied any intent. He claimed the accident was caused by a blackout. Prosecutors disagree: Phone data and witness statements suggest planning. He had scouted the market beforehand. The family of one victim said: 'We want justice for our loved one.'
The attack shocked Germany and sparked debates on the radicalization of ex-Muslims. Security measures at markets were tightened. Taleb A. is in custody and faces a possible life sentence.