Saudi Doctor accused of Christmas market attack sparks political uproar
Saudi doctor Taleb A., accused of the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, was the subject of a speech by the leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD). She claimed that the attacker was a secret Islamist hiding within a non-Islamic society.
The attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg occurred on Friday evening and shook Germany. The number of people injured was 235, and 5 people died, including a 9-year-old child.
Saudi doctor Taleb A. was accused of carrying out the attack and driving a speeding car into the crowd. According to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, the man was a hidden Islamist, which allegedly motivated his actions.
Alice Weidel, during a rally at the scene, stated that the attack was "the crime of a hate-fueled Islamist". She suggested that Taleb A. hid his beliefs by using the doctrine of taqiyyah, which allows for concealing one's faith in non-Islamic societies.
"Spiegel" reports that the politician called for stricter immigration policies and the deportation of those who "despise our values". These demands were met with support from the meeting's participants, who chanted slogans about deportation.
Alice Weidel's speech indicates that the attack could significantly impact the upcoming election campaign scheduled for February 2025. The party's rhetoric may be dominated by migration issues and calls for accountability regarding the current, in their opinion, ineffective policy in this area.
What charges did the suspect of the Magdeburg attack face?
The prosecutor's office is investigating the possible motives of the suspect. One theory is the dissatisfaction of the 50-year-old psychiatrist with the treatment of Saudi immigrants, whom he believed might have been oppressed in Germany. So far, his list of charges includes murder and attempted murder, but there are no charges related to terrorism.
A German newspaper revealed that the attacker left a will in which he predicted his death. The document did not contain any political messages. It is also no secret that the Saudi doctor had a history of conflicts with the authorities of the country where he worked.
