The suspect in the deadly attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany was previously flagged as a potential threat by Saudi Arabian authorities, sources revealed Monday. Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi national, is accused of deliberately driving an SUV into a crowd of holiday shoppers on Friday, killing five people and injuring over 230 others.
According to an anonymous Saudi government source, the Kingdom had repeatedly warned German officials about the danger posed by al-Abdulmohsen and even requested his extradition at one point. The reason behind the extradition request was not disclosed, but the source emphasized that Riyadh had cautioned Germany “many times” about the psychiatrist’s potential for violence.
Security Lapses Under Scrutiny
As the investigation into the attack continues, serious questions are being raised about whether critical gaps in Germany’s security apparatus and immigration policies enabled the tragedy. The head of Germany’s federal criminal police office, Holger Münch, acknowledged receiving a warning about al-Abdulmohsen from Saudi Arabia last year. However, he claimed it was “too vague to act upon” after a threat assessment was conducted.
It was also revealed that German police had unsuccessfully attempted to approach the suspect for a “threat analysis” discussion after he allegedly made threatening references to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing during a work dispute. Authorities apparently abandoned their efforts after failing to locate al-Abdulmohsen at his residence.
Opposition Demands Security Reforms
Amid a tense political climate, German opposition parties are seizing upon the security failures to push for sweeping reforms. Conservatives have demanded an urgent review of intelligence-sharing capabilities between domestic security forces, arguing that they can no longer rely solely on intelligence from foreign services to prevent attacks.
“It cannot be the case any longer that we are satisfied with the fact that information about violent criminals and terrorists often only comes from foreign services,”
– Günter Krings, CDU justice spokesperson
The conservatives assert that German authorities must have expanded powers to apprehend dangerous individuals flagged by allied intelligence agencies before they have the opportunity to execute attacks on German soil.
Controversial Immigration Decisions
Al-Abdulmohsen’s immigration status has also come under heavy scrutiny in the aftermath of the Christmas market attack. Despite his history of posting threatening messages online, the Saudi national was apparently able to freely enter and remain in Germany. This has reignited heated debates over the country’s immigration policies and screening procedures for foreign nationals.
- Allegations of online harassment – Over a dozen women have come forward claiming al-Abdulmohsen sent them threatening messages while attending an international conference earlier this year
- Complaints allegedly ignored – At least one woman says she forwarded a complaint about the psychiatrist’s behavior to German authorities but never received a response
Ex-Muslims International, an advocacy group for people who have left Islam, described al-Abdulmohsen as a “stalker and cyberbully” who was notorious within their community. The organization claims his support for anti-Muslim causes may have been disingenuous.
As a shocked nation attempts to make sense of this horrific attack during the holiday season, urgent questions remain about how the suspect slipped through the cracks despite so many red flags. The outcome of this investigation could have major implications for the future of Germany’s approach to counterterrorism and immigration.
