THE Saudi-born doctor suspected to be behind the deadly attack at a German Christmas market had been tracked by police for over a decade, a secret file has revealed.
Despite numerous warnings and a long history of threats, Dr. Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, 50, was allegedly able to carry out a horrifying three-minute rampage that left five dead, including a nine-year-old boy, and injured 205 others.
The market was closed following the attack[/caption]
The suspect, who stayed at a nearby hotel to allegedly plan the attack, was arrested at the scene and hauled into court over the weekend by armed police.
He now faces five murder charges in a case that has left Germany grieving and furious over potential security failures that might have prevented the tragedy.
It has now emerged that Dr. Taleb al-Abdulmohsen had been on the radar of German authorities for 11 years, with numerous warnings ignored, a file seen by outlet Bild revealed.
The psychiatrist and self-proclaimed atheist from Saudi Arabia had a long and troubling history of erratic behaviour, online threats, and grievances with German authorities.
Yet, despite repeated red flags, he was never officially classified as a threat.
The first major alarm was raised in 2013 when al-Abdulmohsen threatened to attack a medical association over a dispute about his qualifications.
His menacing remarks, made just days after the Boston Marathon bombing, alluded to carrying out a similar atrocity.
Police raided his apartment but, finding no concrete evidence of attack preparations, let him off with a fine.
This pattern of threats and inaction would continue.
In 2014, al-Abdulmohsen threatened to commit an attack or suicide, prompting another police visit.
In 2015, he raged against his earlier fine, calling German judges “racist” and threatening to acquire a gun.
But despite his escalating rhetoric, he was still not classified as a danger.
By 2023, German authorities conducted a risk assessment on him but concluded he posed “no specific danger.”
Even warnings from Saudi intelligence about his threats on social media — where he hinted at “slaughtering German citizens” — were ignored.
On Friday, Magdeburg’s festive Christmas market turned into a scene of unimaginable horror as the suspect deliberately plowed his car into the crowd.
Among the dead were a young boy, a mother of three, and an elderly couple.
More than 40 of the injured are still fighting for their lives in hospitals.
Footage caught the moment the car ploughed into the market[/caption]
Police stand outside Taleb’s home in the early hours of Saturday morning[/caption]
Plush toys, candles and floral tributes lie near the site of Friday’s tragedy[/caption]
The attack has left Germany grappling with deep questions about its security apparatus and migration policies.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser admitted: “This suspect does not fit any existing mold,” describing his actions as resembling Islamist terrorism despite his ideological hostility to Islam.
The motives to the attack remain as complicated and confusing as the suspect’s identity.
Al-Abdulmohsen was a vocal critic of Islam and had supported far-right ideologies online, including Germany’s anti-immigrant AfD party.
But at the same time, he also championed Saudi dissidents and helped women flee oppressive regimes in the Gulf.
In his social media rants, he accused Germany of mistreating Saudi asylum seekers and claimed the country was being “Islamised.”
He even used bizarre AI-generated videos to amplify his grievances, likening himself to far-right activists like Tommy Robinson.
Some who encountered him describe him as unhinged, a man consumed by grievances that spanned religion, politics, and personal vendettas.
It comes as…
- Five confirmed dead, including one nine-year-old boy
- Over 205 injured with dozens in critical condition
- Suspect named as Saudi doctor Taleb al-Abdulmohsen
- Taleb hauled into court
- Driver went on 3 minute rampage
- Police issue UK terror warning over fears of “copycat strike”
- Harry Kane leads tributes to victims
- German authorities ‘warned three times‘ by Saudi about doctor’s plot
The Magdeburg attack has reignited fierce debates over immigration, integration, and security.
Far-right groups have seized on the tragedy to push their anti-immigrant agenda, with protests erupting in several cities.
“Germany didn’t have these kinds of attacks before Merkel opened the borders in 2015,” one protester claimed, a sentiment echoed by hard-right politicians across Europe.
Geert Wilders in the Netherlands and Marine Le Pen in France have used the attack to call for stricter immigration controls, with Le Pen describing it as an “act of war against our civilisation.”
The German government, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure to overhaul its security measures.
Critics are demanding answers as to why repeated warnings about al-Abdulmohsen were dismissed.
The car sped down Alter Markt – where the Christmas market was[/caption]
Tents were set up to treat the injured at the Christmas market[/caption]
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, centre, walks through the market following the attack[/caption]
Chancellor Olaf Scholz, already under fire for his handling of migration issues, has called for national unity.
However, with elections looming in February, the attack is likely to have lasting political repercussions.
It comes after the heartbroken mum of nine-year-old André Gleißner, the attack’s youngest victim, took to social media to pay tribute to her “little teddy bear.”
“André didn’t do anything to anybody. He was only with us on Earth for nine years. Why you? Just why?” mum Desiree wrote.
“Now you are with grandma and grandpa in heaven. They missed you very much, as much as we miss you here now. You will always live in our hearts. I promise you that.”
André, a cherished member of his community, was part of the children’s fire brigade in the Wolfenbüttel district.
His death has left his family and neighbours reeling, symbolising the innocence stolen in an act of senseless violence.
Magdeburg Christmas Market attack: minute-by-minute breakdown
Here is a minute-by-minute breakdown of the horror Magdeburg Christmas Market attack:
7:02 PM: The attack begins when the suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, drives a rental black BMW off a car-friendly road and onto Breiter Weg, a street designated for light rail. Witnesses report the car traveling at speeds of up to 40 mph, hitting several pedestrians. Horrified onlookers see people being struck and thrown to the ground.
7:03 PM: The driver quickly turns right onto Alter Markt, the heart of the Magdeburg Christmas market. The pedestrianised street, which was packed with revellers enjoying festive stalls, had no protective bollards at its entrance to allow access for emergency vehicles. The BMW barrels through the crowd, leaving devastation in its wake. Witnesses describe seeing blood and tinsel scattered across the ground as screams echo through the air. CCTV footage captures the chaos as people dive out of the car’s path, desperately trying to avoid being hit.
7:04 PM: The car continues hurtling down Alter Markt, plowing through a relatively narrow road that opens into a crowded square. Witnesses recount the horrific scene of bodies being struck, with some victims thrown over the car. Five people, including a nine-year-old boy, are killed, and 205 others are injured. Medical personnel scramble to treat the injured amid the carnage.
7:05 PM: After leaving Alter Markt, the driver takes another right onto Ernst-Reuter-Allee, a main road. The car manages to travel only about 50 meters before police officers stationed nearby intercept it. With guns drawn, they stop the vehicle and arrest the suspect.
7:06 PM: Emergency services begin receiving frantic calls about the attack.
7:08 PM: The first rescue teams arrive at the scene to treat the injured and secure the area. Eyewitnesses describe the overwhelming chaos as doctors work urgently to stabilise victims. The city begins to grapple with the horrifying impact of the rampage.