Sunday, December 22, 2024

German market attack suspect in court amid anger over ‘security failings’ – latest

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Far-right protesters rally in Magdeburg after German Christmas market attack

The Saudi doctor accused of driving into a German Christmas market and killing five people has appeared in court, as anger over ‘security failings’ grows.

Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, 50, was remanded in police custody after appearing in front of a judge on Saturday evening.

In a statement, Magdeburg police said: “The judge ordered pre-trial detention for five counts of murder, multiple attempted murder and multiple counts of dangerous bodily harm,” its statement said.

It came hours after politicians were heckled over security concerns as they arrived in Magdeburg on Saturday.

Security at Christmas markets in Germany has stepped up in recent years following a deadly attack in Berlin in 2016, but the attacker was able to gain access on Friday via emergency exit points.

Soon after his arrest, reports also began to emerge that the German authorities had been warned of the suspect but considered him “no specific danger”.

Both sides of the political spectrum have commented on the missed opportunity to stop the attacker, AfD’s parliamentary head demanding a parliamentary session to be held to discuss security issues.

Anger grows in Germany over missed chances to stop Magdeburg Christmas market attack

As the German city of Magdeburg mourns the loss of people killed in an attack on a Christmas market, anger is growing over security concerns and previous warnings given to authorities about the suspect.

Minutes after a car was rammed into the bustling market, a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia named by German media as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was arrested. On Saturday evening, he was remanded into custody after appearing in court, police said.

Local media reported he had shown support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD), with a Saudi source telling Reuters that the kingdom had warned German authorities about the suspect, who the source said had posted extremist views on his personal X account.

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 15:06

Watch: Far-right protesters rally in Magdeburg after German Christmas market attack

Around 1,000 people congregated in the city of Magdeburg on Saturday night (21 December), after misinformation about the motives of the suspected attacker spread online.

Protesters chanted “Those who do not love Germany should leave Germany” and held a banner with the word “Remigration” on it.

There were some minor scuffles with the police, according to local media reports.

Police have arrested a 50-year-old Saudi doctor identified by local media as Taleb A, who had lived in Germany since 2006 and reportedly sympathised with Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Watch: Far-right protesters rally in Magdeburg after German Christmas market attack

Far-right protesters gathered in the German city of Magdeburg after five people – including a child – were killed in an attack on a Christmas market. Around 1,000 people congregated in the city of Magdeburg on Saturday night (21 December), after misinformation about the motives of the suspected attacker spread online. Protesters chanted “Those who do not love Germany should leave Germany” and held a banner with the word “Remigration” on it. There were some minor scuffles with the police, according to local media reports. Police have arrested a 50-year-old Saudi doctor identified by local media as Taleb A, who had lived in Germany since 2006 and reportedly sympathised with Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 14:01

Pictured: Magdeburg pays tribute to victims

(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 13:41

Eyewitness describes ‘war-like conditions’

In the aftermath of the attack, an anonymous eyewitness told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper that the perpetrator drove into the ‘Fairy Tale’ area of the Magdeburg Christmas market, and that there were many families present. She and her child were able to jump to the side of the vehicle.

A restaurateur said that the driver raced directly past his burger stand, describing the conditions as “war-like”.

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 13:24

Anger grows over security concerns

As the German city of Magdeburg mourns the loss of people killed in an attack on a Christmas market, anger is growing over “security concerns”.

Security at Christmas markets in Germany has stepped up in recent years following a deadly attack in Berlin in 2016, but the attacker was able to gain access on Friday via emergency exit points.

City official Ronni Krug insisted the security concept for the Magdeburg Christmas market was “constantly being revised and modified.”

He said: “How this case could come about must first be investigated by the police. I will not indulge in speculation. But you can rest assured that we will continue to update the security concept, which we are constantly updating anyway, once we have reached an assessment with our colleagues from the police.”

(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 12:54

German Christmas market attack: Everything we know as car attack kills five and injures hundreds

Four women and a nine-year-old boy have been killed, with 41 people thought to still be critically injured.

A 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia was arrested on Friday following the attack and has been remanded in custody.

Identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, he has been in the country since 2006 and according to local media outlets, he reportedly sympathised with the country’s far-right Alternative for Germany party.

Here’s everything we know about the attack so far:

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 11:59

German Christmas market attack suspect speaks to BBC in resurfaced 2019 interview

In the days since his arrest, a 2019 BBC video featuring the Magdeburg attack suspect has resurfaced.

In the interview, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen is seen discussing a website he designed to help ex-Muslims flee the Gulf region.

German Christmas market attack suspect speaks to BBC in resurfaced 2019 interview

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 11:37

German authorities were warned about suspect

German authorities received a warning last year about the suspect in a car attack at a Christmas market which killed five people, officials have said.

The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees said on social media site X on Sunday it received a tip in late summer 2023.

The said: “This was taken seriously, like every other of the numerous tips.”

The office highlighted it is not an investigative office and said it referred the information to the relevant authorities, following procedure in such cases.

It gave no other details about the suspect or the nature of the warnings.

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 11:21

Who is Taleb al-Abdulmohsen?

Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia, is suspected of ramming his car into a German Christmas market, killing five.

On Saturday evening, he was remanded into custody after appearing in a court in which he was charged with five counts of murder, multiple attempted murder and multiple counts of dangerous bodily harm.

Authorities confirmed that he first came to Germany in 2006 and later gained refugee status in 2016.

He worked as a psychiatric doctor in the nearby town of Bernburg, with his workplace issuing a statement describing their shock at the attack.

Posting on Instagram, the Salus-Fachklinikum Bernburg clinic said it was “shocked to learn that the alleged perpetrator worked as a specialist doctor in our enforcement in Bernburg”.

It added that the suspect had been employed there as a psychiatric specialist since March 2020, but he had not been working since October due to illness and holiday.

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 11:06

Pictured: Memorial grows in Magdeburg

(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 10:17

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