What is known so far about the suspect in the attack in Germany?

2024-12-21 16:05:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

German authorities have yet to formally release the name of the suspect in Friday's Magdeburg car attack that killed five people and injured hundreds, saying only that he is a Saudi doctor who has lived in Germany for two decades. and that he acted alone during the attack.

Local media say how Taleb A., 59 years old, a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy.

He was arrested at the scene after plowing his BMW into people gathered at a Christmas market on Friday night, killing at least five people and injuring around 200 others.

The well-known German expert on terrorism, Peter Neumann, wrote on the social network X that he had never before come across a suspect of such high-profile violence as the Saudis.

Taleb's X account is filled with posts and reposts that focus on anti-Islamic themes and criticism of the religion, as well as congratulatory messages for Muslims who have left the religion.

He also described himself as an ex-Muslim.

He has criticized the German authorities, saying that they have not done enough to fight the "Islamism of Europe".

He has also expressed support for the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Some described Taleb as an activist who helped Saudi women flee their country. Recently, he seemed focused on his theory that German authorities are targeting Saudi asylum seekers.

Neumann, the terrorism expert, wrote: "After 25 years in this 'profession', you think nothing can surprise you anymore. But a 50-year-old Saudi, ex-Muslim, who lives in eastern Germany, worships the AfD and wants to punish Germany for its tolerance of Islamists - I really didn't think of that."

On Saturday, Germany's interior minister, Nancy Faeser, told reporters: "At this point, we can only say with certainty that the perpetrator of the attack was clearly Islamophobic - we can confirm that. Everything else is a matter for further investigation and we have to wait."

An organization in Germany called Aid for Atheist Refugees said the suspect was not part of the group and claimed he had made "numerous accusations and claims" against it and former board members, which it called untrue.

"We distance ourselves from him in the strongest possible way," the group said in a statement on its website, adding that members of Atheist Refugee Aid filed criminal charges against him in 2019 after "defamation and verbal attacks on low"./REL