A 50-year-old Saudi doctor has been charged with murder and 338 counts of attempted murder over December’s deadly Christmas market attack in the German city of Magdeburg.
Prosecutors confirmed that Dr Taleb Al Abdulmohsen, whose identity was first revealed by BPI News, is accused of deliberately ramming a rented BMW into crowds at the market on 20 December. Six people were killed, including a nine-year-old boy, while hundreds more were wounded. The five women who died were aged between 45 and 75.
In addition to the murder and attempted murder charges, Al Abdulmohsen faces 309 counts of causing bodily harm, as well as a motoring offence. Prosecutors allege he planned the attack over several weeks and sought to “kill as many people as possible”, with the car reaching speeds of up to 30mph (48kph).
Authorities stated that he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time. They claim the attack was motivated “out of dissatisfaction and frustration with the course and outcome of a civil law dispute and the failure of various criminal complaints”.
Al Abdulmohsen, who arrived in Germany in 2006 and was granted permanent residency, was previously flagged by Saudi authorities as a potential threat. Officials noted he does not fit the profile of a religious extremist. He had described himself as an ex-Muslim, was openly critical of Islam, and expressed support for far-right positions online.
Prosecutors believe he acted alone and kept the attack secret until its execution. A court in Magdeburg will now decide whether the case proceeds to trial. If convicted, the murder charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.