What we know about suspect in Christmas market attack in Germany
Germany mourns at least five people killed after disaster Vehicle deliberately drives into crowded Christmas marketauthorities are working to understand the suspects behind the attack.
The suspect, identified by local media as 50-year-old Taleb A., has lived and worked in Germany as a psychiatry and psychotherapy specialist for two decades, authorities said.
Taleb is from Saudi Arabia, arrived in Germany in 2006 and was recognized as a refugee in 2016, CBS News Partner BBC report. He works at Salus-Fachklinikum Bernburg, a specialist clinic in Bernburg, about 25 miles south of Magdeburg.
in a Instagram post On Saturday, the clinic said it was “shocked to learn that the alleged perpetrator works as a specialist in our law enforcement department at Bernburg”. It added that Taleb had been working at the company since March 2020 but had not been at work since October 2024 due to illness and vacation.
“Since late night we have been supporting the investigating authorities in every way possible” who are “shocked and shocked by this horrific attack”.
Saudi sources told Reuters Saudi Arabia has allegedly issued a warning to German authorities about the attackers after they posted extremist views that threatened peace and security on his personal X account.
Taleb’s X account is filled with posts and retweets that focus on anti-Islamic themes and criticism of the religion, while sharing congratulations to Muslims who have left the faith. He also described himself as a former Muslim.
He criticized German authorities, saying they were not doing enough to combat “European Islamism.”
He also expressed support for the far-right and anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Michael Probst/AP
German FAZ newspaper It said it interviewed the suspect in 2019 and described him as an anti-Islamic activist.
“People like me, who have an Islamic background but are no longer believers, will not get the understanding and tolerance of Muslims here,” he said. “I am the most radical critic of Islam in history. If you don’t believe me , then ask the Arabs.”
Peter Neumann, a well-known German terrorism expert, posted on X that he has not encountered a suspect with such characteristics for large-scale violence.
Terrorism expert Neumann writes: “After 25 years in this ‘industry,’ you think nothing can surprise you anymore. But a 50-year-old Saudi ex-Muslim living in East Germany loves the AfD and “Wanting to punish Germany for its tolerance of Islamists – that’s really not on my radar.”
Some describe Taleb as an activist who helped Saudi women flee their homes. Lately, he has seemed focused on his theory that German authorities have been targeting Saudi asylum seekers.
Ibrahim Nurozzi/AP
On Saturday, German Interior Minister Nancy Feser told reporters: “At the moment, all we can say with certainty is that the perpetrator was clearly Islamophobic – we can confirm that. Everything else is subject to further investigation and we have to wait. “
The Germany-based atheist refugee relief group said the alleged attacker was not a member of the group and claimed he had made “numerous accusations and claims” against the group and former board members, which it said were False.
“We distance ourselves from him in the strongest possible terms,” the group said in a statement on its website, adding that members of the atheist refugee relief group had committed “the most vicious slander and verbal attacks” in 2019. Criminal proceedings were filed against him.
Taleb was arrested on the spot after he drove a black BMW into a Christmas market packed with holiday shoppers in Magdeburg on Friday night, killing at least five people and injuring about 200 others.
