Driver in German Christmas Market Attack Charged with Multiple Murders

A devastating car ramming attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday evening claimed the lives of five people and left dozens injured. Authorities said on Sunday that the suspect, a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia with a history of anti-Islamic rhetoric, has been indicted on multiple counts of murder and attempted murder, the BBC reported.
The suspect, identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen by German media, drove a black BMW through the crowded Christmas market, killing a nine-year-old boy and four women aged 52, 45, 75, and 67. Around 40 others sustained serious or critical injuries.
According to police, the suspect gained access to the market by using emergency exit points, accelerating into the crowd in an attack that lasted approximately three minutes and injured over 200 people. He was arrested at the scene.
The incident has deeply shaken Magdeburg and the wider German community. Residents gathered over the weekend to mourn the victims, leaving flowers and messages near the site of the attack. A sign reading “Why?” symbolized the public’s grief and confusion.
Meanwhile, far-right protesters, numbering around 2,100, held a demonstration in the city on Saturday night. Some wore black balaclavas and displayed banners advocating “remigration,” a term associated with calls for the mass deportation of immigrants. Police reported minor disturbances and announced plans for criminal proceedings related to the demonstration.
The suspect has lived in Germany for nearly two decades and is known for his outspoken criticism of Islam and German authorities. He had previously appeared in media interviews, discussing his work assisting Saudi Arabians who had renounced Islam and sought asylum in Europe.
Social media activity linked to the suspect showed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and U.S. billionaire Elon Musk. Saudi authorities had reportedly warned Germany about the suspect’s social media posts on multiple occasions.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser described the attack as “unbelievably cruel and brutal,” likening the suspect’s actions to those of an Islamist terrorist, despite his ideological hostility toward Islam.
The attack has reignited debates over Germany’s immigration policies and security measures. Opposition parties, including the Christian Democrats and Free Democrats, called for enhanced coordination between federal and state security agencies.
Sahra Wagenknecht, leader of the leftist BSW party, criticized the apparent failure to act on prior warnings about the suspect. Her party, which has taken a firm stance against unchecked immigration, has seen growing support ahead of Germany’s February elections.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democrats are trailing in polls, attended a service for the victims at Magdeburg’s cathedral on Saturday. The tragedy has put increased pressure on his government to address public concerns over safety and immigration ahead of the elections.
Authorities are working to uncover the motive behind the attack, which remains unclear. Interior Minister Faeser stated that the investigation would leave “no stone unturned” as officials piece together the suspect’s background and the circumstances leading to the attack.
Taleb al-Abdulmohsen arrived in Germany in 2006, received refugee status in 2016, and had been working as a doctor. He is now in pre-trial detention pending further investigation and trial.