"Suspect with Murder Charges in Saudi Arabia"
"Anti-Islamic and Far-Right Tendencies"... Difficulty in Identifying Motive
On the 21st (local time), mourners gathered around the Christmas Market in Magdeburg, Germany, placing flowers in memory of the victims of the terror attack that occurred the previous day. Photo by AP and Yonhap News
The Saudi Arabian suspect who carried out a random vehicle-ramming attack in Magdeburg, Germany, was reportedly the subject of multiple requests by the Saudi government to the German government for extradition, warning of the potential for terrorism. The suspect, who had been working as a psychiatrist in Germany, is known for his anti-Islam and far-right tendencies, but the exact motive for the crime has not yet been determined. German authorities have stated their intention to strengthen security measures to prevent similar attacks, but it is expected that there will be strong criticism for ignoring the Saudi government's warnings.
Saudi Government Warned Since 2007... "Germany Ignored Terrorist Extradition Requests"
On the 20th (local time), around the Magdeburg Christmas Market area in Germany, where indiscriminate vehicle ramming caused over 200 casualties, ambulances are moving to the scene. Photo by AP and Yonhap News.
On the 22nd (local time), CNN cited Saudi Arabian sources saying, "The Saudi government officially warned Germany more than four times about the danger posed by the vehicle-ramming attacker since 2007," adding, "Three of the warnings were sent to German intelligence agencies, and one was delivered to the German Foreign Ministry, but all warnings were ignored."
On the 20th, at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, the Saudi-born suspect, Taleb Al Abdulmosen, carried out a vehicle-ramming attack that killed five people and injured around 200. According to CNN, the Saudi government requested the extradition of Abdulmosen from the German government between 2007 and the following year, as he was under investigation for murder and attempted murder charges, but the German government refused the extradition request.
Abdulmosen moved to Germany in 2006 and obtained permanent residency. He worked as a psychiatrist in Bernburg, a small town about 40 km from Magdeburg, where the attack occurred. So far, no accomplices have been identified, and Abdulmosen is believed to have planned and carried out the attack alone.
Anti-Islam and Far-Right Terrorist... "Motive Still Unclear"
Photo of the passport of Taleb Al Abdulmosen, the suspect in the Magdeburg Christmas Market terror attack in Germany, on the 20th (local time). Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.
Abdulmosen was arrested at the scene immediately after the attack and is currently under investigation, but German authorities have yet to determine his exact motive. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), early in the investigation, Abdulmosen was suspected of being a member of an Islamic extremist terrorist organization, but during the identification process, it was revealed that he was an anti-Islamist and a supporter of far-right parties in Germany, causing confusion in the investigation.
Abdulmosen posted complaints on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Germany is expelling Saudi female asylum seekers domestically and abroad, destroying their lives," and "Germany is Islamizing Europe." The Magdeburg prosecutor's office also stated, "The suspect Abdulmosen appears to have committed the crime out of dissatisfaction with the treatment of Saudi refugees."
Additionally, Abdulmosen frequently posted content about women being persecuted in the Middle East. Regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, he posted messages supporting Israel, and he also shared content supporting the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party advocating anti-immigration policies.
With the German general election scheduled for February next year, the political landscape has become highly uncertain due to this attack. Analysts suggest that the election results could be significantly influenced depending on whether this attack intensifies the growing anti-immigrant sentiment in Germany or raises awareness about the violent tendencies of far-right parties.
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