The Saudi physician accused of driving right into a German Christmas market and killing 5 individuals has appeared in court docket, as anger over ‘safety failings’ grows.
Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, 50, was remanded in police custody after showing in entrance of a choose on Saturday night.
In a press release, Magdeburg police stated: “The choose ordered pre-trial detention for 5 counts of homicide, a number of tried homicide and a number of counts of harmful bodily hurt,” its assertion stated.
It got here hours after politicians have been heckled over safety considerations as they arrived in Magdeburg on Saturday.
Safety at Christmas markets in Germany has stepped up lately following a lethal assault in Berlin in 2016, however the attacker was capable of acquire entry on Friday by way of emergency exit factors.
Quickly after his arrest, experiences additionally started to emerge that the German authorities had been warned of the suspect however thought-about him “no particular hazard”.
Either side of the political spectrum have commented on the missed alternative to cease the attacker, AfD’s parliamentary head demanding a parliamentary session to be held to debate safety points.
Pictured: Magdeburg pays tribute to victims
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 13:41
Eyewitness describes ‘war-like situations’
Within the aftermath of the assault, an nameless eyewitness advised the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper that the perpetrator drove into the ‘Fairy Story’ space of the Magdeburg Christmas market, and that there have been many households current. She and her youngster have been capable of bounce to the aspect of the automobile.
A restaurateur stated that the driving force raced straight previous his burger stand, describing the situations as “war-like”.
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 13:24
Anger grows over safety considerations
Because the German metropolis of Magdeburg mourns the lack of individuals killed in an assault on a Christmas market, anger is rising over “safety considerations”.
Safety at Christmas markets in Germany has stepped up lately following a lethal assault in Berlin in 2016, however the attacker was capable of acquire entry on Friday by way of emergency exit factors.
Metropolis official Ronni Krug insisted the safety idea for the Magdeburg Christmas market was “always being revised and modified.”
He stated: “How this case might come about should first be investigated by the police. I can’t take pleasure in hypothesis. However you may relaxation assured that we are going to proceed to replace the safety idea, which we’re always updating anyway, as soon as we’ve reached an evaluation with our colleagues from the police.”
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 12:54
German Christmas market assault: All the pieces we all know as automotive assault kills 5 and injures lots of
4 girls and a nine-year-old boy have been killed, with 41 individuals thought to nonetheless be critically injured.
A 50-year-old physician from Saudi Arabia was arrested on Friday following the assault and has been remanded in custody.
Recognized as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, he has been within the nation since 2006 and based on native media shops, he reportedly sympathised with the nation’s far-right Various for Germany celebration.
Right here’s every part we all know concerning the assault to date:
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 11:59
German Christmas market assault suspect speaks to BBC in resurfaced 2019 interview
Within the days since his arrest, a 2019 BBC video that includes the Magdeburg assault suspect has resurfaced.
Within the interview, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen is seen discussing an internet site he designed to assist ex-Muslims flee the Gulf area.
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 11:37
German authorities have been warned about suspect
German authorities obtained a warning final yr concerning the suspect in a automotive assault at a Christmas market which killed 5 individuals, officers have stated.
The German Federal Workplace for Migration and Refugees stated on social media web site X on Sunday it obtained a tip in late summer season 2023.
The stated: “This was taken critically, like each different of the quite a few suggestions.”
The workplace highlighted it isn’t an investigative workplace and stated it referred the knowledge to the related authorities, following process in such instances.
It gave no different particulars concerning the suspect or the character of the warnings.
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 11:21
Who’s Taleb al-Abdulmohsen?
Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old physician from Saudi Arabia, is suspected of ramming his automotive right into a German Christmas market, killing 5.
On Saturday night, he was remanded into custody after showing in a court docket through which he was charged with 5 counts of homicide, a number of tried homicide and a number of counts of harmful bodily hurt.
Authorities confirmed that he first got here to Germany in 2006 and later gained refugee standing in 2016.
He labored as a psychiatric physician within the close by city of Bernburg, together with his office issuing a press release describing their shock on the assault.
Posting on Instagram, the Salus-Fachklinikum Bernburg clinic stated it was “shocked to study that the alleged perpetrator labored as a specialist physician in our enforcement in Bernburg”.
It added that the suspect had been employed there as a psychiatric specialist since March 2020, however he had not been working since October on account of sickness and vacation.
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 11:06
Pictured: Memorial grows in Magdeburg
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 10:17
9-year-old boy among the many lifeless
Authorities have confirmed {that a} nine-year-old boy is among the many 5 individuals who have been killed in an assault on a Christmas market in jap Germany.
Magdeburg police stated that the opposite victims have been 4 girls, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75.
205 individuals have been injured within the assault together with 41 in crucial situation.
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 09:47
Watch: Far-right protesters rally in Magdeburg after German Christmas market assault
Athena Stavrou22 December 2024 09:31