Disturbing digital footprint of German Christmas market attack suspect uncovered

The suspect behind the recent Christmas market attack in Magdeburg, Germany, has been allegedly identified as Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen, 50, a Saudi doctor who had sought asylum in the country. He is accused of driving a BMW into a crowd, resulting in the deaths of five individuals and injuring dozens more.

Prior to the tragic event on Friday night, Abdulmohsen released a five-minute audio message online, in which he expressed his grievances against Germany, blaming the nation for various historical injustices, including the execution of Socrates in 399 BC.

He denounced the German authorities, claiming they had stolen a USB stick from his mailbox, which he associated with a broader narrative of oppression he felt he faced in his new home.

Additionally, recent investigations into Abdulmohsen's social media activity have revealed a series of disturbing posts on his alleged X account. Some posts displayed a troubling admiration for far-right figures and ideologies, while others expressed deep-seated anger.

Abdulmohsen arrived in Germany in 2006 and lived in Bernburg, roughly 30 miles from Magdeburg. After his relocation, he became active in Saudi refugee circles, portraying himself on social media as an ex-Muslim advocating for women's rights. However, his erratic behavior led to warnings from fellow activists about the potential dangers of collaborating with him.

From the Dina Ali case, I wasn’t comfortable with Taleb’s “style,” shall we say. I noted ego, paranoia, aggressiveness, unclear and at times suspicious access to information, questionable ethics in terms of activist methods, and emotional instability.

— Nora Abdulkarim نورة الدعيجي (@Ana3rabeya) December 21, 2024

Nora Abdulkarim, a scholar focused on Saudi feminism, recalled her interactions with Abdulmohsen in 2017 in a thread on X, advising caution due to his unpredictable and aggressive demeanor. She suggested that his recent messages likely stemmed from a legal dispute with a charity supporting atheist refugees, which he accused of exploiting Saudi women.

I first encountered Taleb in 2017 while looking into the case of Saudi asylum-seeker, Dina Ali Lasaloom. En route to Australia, she was stopped in transit in Manila, Philippines, & forcibly returned home on April 11, 2017.

— Nora Abdulkarim نورة الدعيجي (@Ana3rabeya) December 21, 2024

German authorities reportedly received multiple warnings from Saudi Arabian officials concerning Abdulmohsen, though the specifics of these alerts remain unclear. Over time, his anger towards the German government and society intensified, as evidenced by his posts on social media.

In December 2023, Abdulmohsen ominously proclaimed, "Revenge will come soon. Even if it costs me my life. I will make the German nation pay the price of the crimes committed by its government against Saudi refugees." His threats included calls for action from concerned German citizens, warning them to seek justice before it was too late.

Interestingly, in September 2023, a Saudi woman attempted to notify the police of Abdulmohsen's plans to harm "random German citizens," but mistakenly contacted law enforcement in New Jersey rather than Germany.

In November, he posted a manifesto advocating for stricter immigration controls in Germany and criticizing the country’s handling of refugee issues, linking these grievances to his personal battles with organizations he deemed corrupt.

Here are the demands of the Saudi liberal opposition:

1- Germany must protect its borders against illegal immigration. It has become evident that Germany's open borders policy was Merkel's plan to Islamize Europe.

2- Legislative reforms in Germany to protect activism:

a)…

— Taleb Al Abdulmohsen (@DrTalebJawad) November 9, 2024

The situation escalated with his audacious claim that if he were to be assassinated, the German authorities would be to blame, while downplaying any threats from extremist groups. He portrayed himself as a target of systemic harassment due to his activism.

Taleb Abdulmohsen has several social media accounts. I found three particularly interesting messages in one of them, which might constitute his “manifesto.”

The final message was posted on December 14, 2024, where Taleb wrote in Arabic (my translation):

“If I am assassinated,…

— Nora Abdulkarim نورة الدعيجي (@Ana3rabeya) December 21, 2024