Magdeburg attack linked to mental health, not terrorism
Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced that the perpetrator of the attack in Magdeburg exhibits "striking signs of a pathological psyche." She emphasized that the assailant does not fit known terrorist patterns.
Faeser participated in a special session of the parliamentary interior committee, where she promised further clarification on the matter. "All circumstances must be thoroughly and precisely examined," she declared. She added that "the task is to piece together all findings and paint a picture of this perpetrator, who does not fit any existing mold."
The Minister noted that the investigation is ongoing, and it is still too early for conclusions. Currently, thousands of the perpetrator's statements on the internet are being examined. It is important to draw the right conclusions about "how such information must be assessed and summarized to be able to intervene at the right time," Faeser stressed.
Tragic toll of victims
On the evening of December 20, 50-year-old Taleb Abdul Jawad from Saudi Arabia drove his car into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. The attack resulted in the death of five people, including a 9-year-old boy and four women aged 45 to 75, and left over 200 injured. Jawad had lived in Germany since 2006 and worked as a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy.
According to German media, Jawad was known for his criticism of Islam and his sympathy for the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD). Following the attack, he was arrested. He had obtained asylum in Germany and worked in a clinic in Bernburg near Magdeburg.
