Magdeburg Christmas market attack: Suspect 'Taleb A' appeared as 'activist' in BBC film
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The suspect in last night's Christmas market massacre had appeared as an "activist" in a BBC documentary, it has been reported. Shortly after 7pm Friday, the man named as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen drove his black BMW into a crowd gathered to celebrate the festive period at Magdenburg Christmas market. At least five people were killed, with more than 200 now injured - 40 of those in grave condition in hospital.
Also named in German media as Taleb A, the Saudi exile, who is said to be a specialist in psychotherapy, described himself online as a former Muslim and used his Twitter page to accuse Germany of failing to address what he called the "Islamism of Europe".
In one video that has been shared online by German media, the suspect - now aged 50 - is seen speaking to the BBC in 2019 about helping others to get safe asylum outside of Saudi Arabia. He calls himself an "ex-Muslim" living in exile in Germany after his life was "threatened" in his native Saudi Arabia, adding that he spent between 10 to 16 hours per day helping asylum seekers through various social media channels.
Saudi Arabia claims that it warned Germany about Taleb before he carried out the horrific massacre, according to Reuters news agency, which cited an insider who claims to have raised concerns about his extremist views on social media. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said nearly 40 of those in hospital were "so seriously injured that we must be very worried about them". Sir Keir Starmer said he was "horrified" by the "atrocious attack" after a car ploughed into the market in Magdeburg and offered his support to the people of Germany.
