The suspect in the Magdeburg Christmas market attack had previous encounters with the justice system. In 2013, he threatened an attack, resulting in a fine.
The German judiciary confirmed this report by Der Spiegel. Taleb al-Abdulmohsen had a conflict with the medical association in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where he lived and studied.
Disagreements over exam results led him to threaten the association. He referenced the Boston Marathon bombing in his threats.
Despite a house search, no evidence of an actual attack plan was found. In 2014, he was involved in another threat incident while applying for financial aid in Stralsund.
He threatened violence and self-harm if his request was denied. He was subsequently monitored by the police.
In 2015, he sent a letter with insults to the judiciary and called the judges racists, threatening revenge. Despite these incidents, state minister Christian Pegel said he was not considered a threat, as there was no ideological basis.
Pegel noted that much information was unavailable due to document destruction after the legal retention period. Abdulmohsen studied in multiple locations including Mecklenburg-Vorpommern from 2011 to 2016, applied for asylum in 2016, and obtained permanent residency.
He could not safely return to Saudi Arabia as an apostate. Recently, the 50-year-old Saudi doctor has turned away from Islam and sympathized with the far-right AfD party.
He opposed Chancellor Angela Merkel’s refugee policies, feared the Islamization of Germany, and wished harm upon Merkel. He also positioned himself as an activist helping women flee Saudi Arabia.
Der Spiegel noted his behavior was distinctive over the years, affecting his social and professional life. At the Bernburg clinic, where he worked as a psychiatrist, he frequently reported sick recently.
Colleagues did not perceive him as aggressive and did not anticipate the attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market.
Source: NOS