Saudi Arabia alerted Germany to suspect in Magdeburg Christmas market attack, reports say
Media reports suggest that Riyadh alerted Berlin regarding the extremist beliefs of the suspect in the Magdeburg attack and sought his extradition. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The individual responsible for the tragic incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, has been identified as a Saudi national named Taleb A. Reports from various media outlets on Saturday highlighted his prior encounters with law enforcement. Notably, requests for his extradition from his home country have gone unanswered.
Last year, Saudi Arabia alerted German authorities about Taleb A., according to DPA, though the specifics of the warning remain unclear. The kingdom's extradition request for the 50-year-old doctor also elicited no response from Berlin, as stated by security sources from Saudi Arabia.
German security sources indicated that Saudi officials had previously informed their German counterparts about the extremist views Taleb A. had expressed publicly on Twitter. He is characterized as a radical anti-Islamist who has renounced his faith.
Having lived in Germany since 2006, Taleb A. did not secure protected status until 2016. His earlier issues with German law include a 2013 conviction for “disturbance of public peace by threatening crimes,” for which he received a fine of approximately €900. This situation allowed him to remain in Germany amid concerns that he could face “immediate execution” if returned to Saudi Arabia, and it did not hinder his asylum application.
Allegedly, the suspect drove into a crowd at the Magdeburg Christmas market on Friday night, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals, including a child, and injuring around 200 others, with 41 in serious or critical condition.
Authorities mentioned that the motive behind the attack is still unknown; however, Magdeburg Prosecutor Horst Nopens speculated it might stem from the suspect’s discontent with how Berlin manages Saudi refugees. Taleb A. now faces five charges of murder as well as more than 200 counts of attempted murder, according to the prosecution.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Last year, Saudi Arabia alerted German authorities about Taleb A., according to DPA, though the specifics of the warning remain unclear. The kingdom's extradition request for the 50-year-old doctor also elicited no response from Berlin, as stated by security sources from Saudi Arabia.
German security sources indicated that Saudi officials had previously informed their German counterparts about the extremist views Taleb A. had expressed publicly on Twitter. He is characterized as a radical anti-Islamist who has renounced his faith.
Having lived in Germany since 2006, Taleb A. did not secure protected status until 2016. His earlier issues with German law include a 2013 conviction for “disturbance of public peace by threatening crimes,” for which he received a fine of approximately €900. This situation allowed him to remain in Germany amid concerns that he could face “immediate execution” if returned to Saudi Arabia, and it did not hinder his asylum application.
Allegedly, the suspect drove into a crowd at the Magdeburg Christmas market on Friday night, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals, including a child, and injuring around 200 others, with 41 in serious or critical condition.
Authorities mentioned that the motive behind the attack is still unknown; however, Magdeburg Prosecutor Horst Nopens speculated it might stem from the suspect’s discontent with how Berlin manages Saudi refugees. Taleb A. now faces five charges of murder as well as more than 200 counts of attempted murder, according to the prosecution.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
