Four dead, more than 200 injured: The man arrested after the car attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market is Taleb A., a 50-year-old specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy from Bernburg (Saale). He has lived in Germany since 2006 with a permanent residence permit.
Taleb A. is from Saudi Arabia and describes himself as an ex-Muslim and activist critical of Islam. In social media and interviews, he recently made confusing accusations against German authorities, whom he accused of failing to combat Islamism and by whom he felt persecuted. According to media reports, he stated in one video: “The government is criminal instead of protecting me. The police are the criminals. In this case, I hold the German nation and German citizens responsible for this.”
The psychiatrist reportedly believed in a “secret covert operation” by Germany to “hunt down” Saudi ex-Muslims worldwide and destroy their lives, while Syrian jihadists were granted asylum in Germany.
After expressing his support for Saudi women fleeing their homeland years ago, he later wrote on his website in English and Arabic: “My advice: do not seek asylum in Germany.”
“Most aggressive critic of Islam”
In an interview with the ‘FAZ’ in 2019, the perpetrator called himself the ‘most aggressive critic of Islam in history’. An outspoken atheist, he sought asylum in Germany because he feared persecution in his home country for his disbelief and criticism of Islam. Similar reports appeared on the BBC and in “Spiegel” the same year. He later distanced himself from Germany.
On social media he showed himself to be a fan of the AfD, Elon Musk and also Martin Sellner.
The first drug test is positive
A car rammed into a group of people at a Christmas market in the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt early on Friday evening. After the death drive, a special task force searched his apartment, just a twelve-minute walk from the Bernburg Clinic, where he worked in the correctional system for addicted criminals.
The background to his crime remains unclear. However, what is already certain, according to German newspapers, is that he was under the influence of drugs or medication.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
