A car crashed into a Christmas market in Magdeburg. At least five people have died and over 200 have been injured. The suspect in the crime has been arrested. He is Taleb A., a doctor born in Saudi Arabia who has lived in Germany since 2006.
In Germany, measures for prevention and education to counter radicalization have been discussed repeatedly. Terrorism consultant Rebecca Schönenbach stated on platform X: "Education does not prevent radicalization."
Euronews inquired about her statement. Schönenbach explains: "In organized terrorist groups, you can find well-educated individuals; historically, groups like the banned Islamist 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' have promoted themselves at universities. Radical left terrorist organizations, such as the PFLP ('Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine'), classified as a terrorist organization in the EU, also recruit within student environments, which has been observed in German universities since October 7, 2023. With these examples, I want to emphasize that education does not automatically prevent radicalization, so educational programs alone are insufficient as a preventive measure."
Radical Statements by Taleb A.
In the case of Taleb A., it is clear that he has shared Islamophobic ideas online for years and sympathized with the 'Alternative for Germany' party. He wanted to establish an academy for former Muslims alongside AdG and reportedly asked: "Who else is fighting against Islam in Germany?".
RelatedAccording to media reports, German authorities had previously received warnings about Taleb A. from Saudi Arabia.
He was primarily active on platform X. On this platform, he announced plans for revenge against the German state. "I assure you, revenge will come very soon, 100 percent. Even if it costs me my life." He accused the German state of Islamization.
Euronews asked Rebecca Schönenbach how she assesses the radicalization of older individuals on platform X:
"The potential for online radicalization exists not only on Twitter; older individuals also become targets on other social platforms. Overall, people over 50 tend to share fake news more often, as they apparently have a harder time recognizing it than younger internet users. However, in the case of the Magdeburg perpetrator, several factors converged: his activity on X indicates radical sentiments, but whether the radicalization occurred online is a contentious question."
Schönenbach notes that there is currently "no publicly confirmed information about the social environment of the Magdeburg perpetrator, his mental illness, personal contacts, or other factors that could have influenced his radicalization."
Authorities Were Already Informed About Taleb A.
Schönenbach continues: "It is clear that at least two people had already reported him to the authorities, so he was noticeable for several months, if not years. This also raises the question of whether any behavioral issues were recorded in his professional environment." However, at this point, too much remains unclear "to make any definitive statements," the expert adds.
According to the news magazine Der Spiegel, a complaint against Taleb A. was filed in December 2023. It mentioned A.'s posts on platform X, where he claimed that Germany "will pay the price" for allegedly persecuting refugees from Saudi Arabia. The Criminal Police Office of Saxony-Anhalt conducted an investigation and concluded that there was no specific threat in his statements.
The organization Säkuläre Flüchtlingshilfe also stated that it had contacts with the alleged perpetrator in the past. The last out-of-court contact took place in 2018. "Initially, cooperation was planned to coordinate assistance for atheist refugees from Saudi Arabia. However, this cooperation did not succeed," the statement reads.
Since then, contacts with Taleb A. have only been made through lawyers and courts. The association reports that in 2019, its members filed a police report "after the most heinous slander and verbal attacks from his side." "Throughout this time, we have not been able to identify any reason explaining his slanderous campaign and the aggressiveness of his accusations," the statement continues.
According to Spiegel, it has now also become known that the alleged perpetrator was due to appear in court in Magdeburg on December 19, the day before the crime. In February 2024, he was issued a ruling in Berlin for "improper use of emergency calls." A. has appealed.