Saudi Doctor on Trial in Germany for Deadly Christmas Market Attack

TDT | Manama

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A Saudi psychiatrist went on trial in Germany on Monday, accused of deliberately driving his SUV into a crowded Christmas market in December 2023, killing six people and injuring more than 300 others in one of the most shocking attacks in recent years.

The accused, 51-year-old Taleb Jawad al-Abdulmohsen, was arrested near the crash site shortly after the rampage in the eastern city of Magdeburg. Prosecutors allege that Abdulmohsen, known for his anti-Islamic views and far-right conspiracy theories, acted out of “deep dissatisfaction and frustration,” intending to “kill as many people as possible.”

At the opening of the trial, Abdulmohsen appeared in court with a long, greying beard, smiling as he sat inside a bulletproof glass enclosure. Authorities say he used a rented BMW SUV to plow into the festive crowd, killing a nine-year-old boy and five women aged between 45 and 75.

The case has sparked intense scrutiny of Germany’s security services, with critics questioning whether the attack could have been prevented. Officials have confirmed that Abdulmohsen had previously expressed extremist rhetoric and made violent threats online.