Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, the suspect in the German car-ramming attack that killed five and injured over 200 in Magdeburg, has been identified as a self-described member of the “liberal opposition” to Saudi Arabia with strong anti-Islamic and anti-immigration views. He sought asylum in Germany in 2016, claiming threats from Saudi Arabia, and worked as a specialist in psychiatry at a clinic. Al-Abdulmohsen has been linked to far-right movements such as Germany’s AfD party and praised figures like Geert Wilders, who are known for their anti-immigrant views.
Authorities are investigating whether the Christmas market attack is terrorism-related. German prosecutors are planning to file charges for homicide, attempted homicide, and aggravated assault. Al-Abdulmohsen’s online activity, including retweets of anti-Islam and anti-immigrant content, has raised concerns about his motives for the attack. He left Islam in his early 20s and used social media to criticize the religion.
The Salus clinic where al-Abdulmohsen worked confirmed that he was off-duty since the end of October due to vacation and illness. An NGO lodged a complaint against him in 2019 for slander and verbal attacks. Al-Abdulmohsen also criticized the German government for suppressing free speech and reposted Elon Musk, who expressed support for the AfD party. The police have not commented on his online activity.
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