Suspect in Magdeburg murder pens muddled message to news outlets - probe ongoing
Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi national and psychiatrist, is accused of perpetrating a devastating car-ramming attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market in December 2024[1][2]. The attack resulted in six deaths and over 300 injuries.
Al-Abdulmohsen drove a rented BMW X3 at speeds up to 48 km/h into the crowded market, causing chaos and destruction in a rampage that lasted about one minute. He acted alone and had been under the radar of German authorities since 2013 due to threats and incoherent writings[1][2].
Following his arrest near the site, al-Abdulmohsen has been held in investigative custody in Berlin. In a disturbing development, he has reportedly sent letters to victims from prison, causing distress among survivors[4].
The letter, received at the beginning of August, was confirmed authentic by the General Public Prosecutor's Office in Naumburg. The contents of the letter include incoherent claims in both German and English, as well as melancholic poems in Arabic, claimed to be written by the perpetrator himself. The claims pertain to a network of former Muslims, German politics, and investigations against the perpetrator[2].
Taleb A., as he is known, also presented himself as an activist wanting to help women flee his home country. The letter was not only sent to the media representative for "Der Spiegel", but also to other editorial offices[2]. Charges against al-Abdulmohsen are expected to be filed as early as August, with the Magdeburg court deciding on sending the case to trial[1]. Investigations are ongoing to understand the motivations behind the attack, with authorities suggesting that personal frustration and legal disputes may have played a role, rather than extremist terrorism[1][2].
Al-Abdulmohsen had lived in Germany since 2006, with permanent residency, and worked as a forensic psychiatry doctor in Bernburg, near Magdeburg[1][2]. Despite his professional background, he had previously exhibited erratic and threatening behavior, recorded in 105 incidents before the attack. Authorities describe him as a former Muslim who became critical of Islam and expressed support for far-right ideologies along with conspiracy theory beliefs[1][2].
- The general-news outlets have been reporting on the ongoing investigation into Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen's car-ramming attack, which occurred at the Magdeburg Christmas market and resulted in both deaths and injuries.
- Apart from his alleged extremist beliefs, the letters sent by al-Abdulmohsen from prison have hinted at a network of former Muslims, German politics, and ongoing investigations against him, raising questions about the motivations behind his crime-and-justice actions.
