Sunday, July 12, 2026

German authorities ignored multiple warnings from Saudi Arabia regarding Christmas market attacker: Report

He self-identified as “Saudi atheist” and had helped women flee gulf countries.

• December 22, 2024
Taleb al-Abdulmohsen
Taleb al-Abdulmohsen

Authorities in Saudi Arabia said multiple warnings they sent to German intelligence agencies regarding Magdeburg market suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, were ignored before he ran a car into the Christmas market that left five people dead and more than 200 injured on Friday.

According to the BBC, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly sent four so-called “Notes Verbal”, three of them to Germany’s intelligence agencies and one to the foreign ministry in Berlin about Mr Abdulmohsen but received no response from German authorities.

The 50-year-old, who was born in Saudi Arabia, self-identified as “Saudi atheist” and had helped women flee gulf countries.

He often expressed far-right and anti-Muslim views on X and was a strong critic of authorities in Berlin for allowing too many Muslim into Germany, citing attempts to Islamised Europe.

Mr Abdulmohsen’s extremist stance reportedly led Saudi authorities to send several warnings to German officials about the danger he posed to his adopted country but none of the warnings were taken up before the psychiatrist carried out the deadly attack last week.

Meanwhile, the German government has vowed to investigate whether the attack could have been prevented after it came to light that authorities had received warnings about the suspect.

Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, the heads of the domestic and foreign intelligence services, would be questioned by two parliamentary committees next week.

Saudi Arabia said they would provide information they have on Mr Abdulmohsen to help them in their investigation.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Hot news Home top

Norwegian Air changes logo to British Airways after losing World Cup bet

The 2026 World Cup marked a historic milestone for Norway because it’s the first time the Scandinavian nation reached the tournament’s quarter-finals.

Heading 5

Alleged Fake Agency: Police to arraign PFIPC DG Adeniyi Adeyemi Tuesday

Mr Adeyemi was alleged to have operated the fictitious agency from the 2nd Floor of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja, Phase III, before his arrest.

States

Benue deputy governor demands justice for suspected killer herders’ victims

The deputy governor assured the people that the state government was committed to the protection of lives and property.

NDLEA

NationWide

NDLEA intercepts South African woman with heroin at Abuja airport

Mr Babafemi said the suspect concealed 14 large blocks of heroin weighing 5.75kg in her luggage.

Aliyu Bello

Politics

Opposition can’t unseat Tinubu in 2027; they’re in total disarray: APC Chieftain

Mr Bello dismissed reports of an emerging opposition coalition, insisting that the parties remained fragmented.

Michael Aondoakaa.

States

Ex-AGF Michael Aondoakaa mourns victims of Benue killings, demands action to end bloodshed

He said the latest killings highlighted the continued vulnerability of communities in Benue to violent attacks.