Photo: meduza.
The terrorist attack in Magdeburg has shaken Germany with new details. The car that drove into the crowd at the Christmas market was driven by a 50-year-old psychiatrist with refugee status, Taleb Jawad Al-Abdul Mohsen from Saudi Arabia. The man, who had once been granted asylum in Germany due to persecution in his home country, had publicly criticised the Islamisation of Europe and refugee policies.
According to the Time Ukraine Israel portal, citing Israelinfo, Al-Abdul Mohsen had an unusual profile for a terrorist. He worked as a psychiatrist in a hospital in the suburbs of Magdeburg, as well as in a rehabilitation centre for convicts. His active involvement in social media and public statements over the years demonstrated his dissatisfaction with Berlin’s policies, in particular, its support for Syrian extremists.
The story of a refugee turned terrorist
In 2006, Al-Abdul Mohsen arrived in Germany seeking asylum. He described himself as “the most aggressive critic of Islam” and claimed that his life was threatened in Saudi Arabia because of this. Known for his provocative statements, in 2019 he claimed in an interview that Germany was actively promoting the Islamisation of Europe and accused Angela Merkel of destroying European values.
Al-Abdul Mohsen also founded a platform to help Saudi women refugees, but his initiative was not supported. In his posts, he criticised Germany for its indifference to the fate of such people, stressing that the authorities persecute refugees within the country.
From words to action: a tragedy at a Christmas market
On 7 October 2024, after a series of pro-Israeli posts on social media, Al-Abdul Mohsen decided to translate his views into radical action. In a rented BMW, he broke through police barriers at a Christmas market in the centre of Magdeburg, destroying 400 metres of the shopping corridor and killing several people. His motives, according to German media, were rooted in dissatisfaction with Germany’s refugee policy.
This case raises questions about the deeper problems of integration and radicalisation in Europe. The story of Taleb Al-Abdul Mohsen is a combination of the tragedy of personal disappointment and systemic failures in refugee policy. Germany is facing difficult challenges: how to balance humanity and security in the face of threats from radicalised individuals.
