German authorities are increasingly facing accusations that they could have done more to prevent a deadly attack on a Christmas-market stall as a judge ordered the suspect to be held in pre-trial detention after a court appearance late Saturday.
Taleb Al Abdulmohsen is charged with plowing a car into a crowded market in the German city of Magdeburg, killing five and injuring over 200.
An unclear motive for the attack has surfaced but the suspect is a 50-year-old Saudi citizen who has lived in Germany for more than a decade and worked to help Saudis flee his home country. On social media he was an implacable critic of Islam and prosecutors said he could have become embittered by the way Germany treats Saudi refugees.
Recent messages have become ever-more threatening. One declares “if Germany wants to kill us, we will slaughter them, die, go to prison with pride.
“The magistrate determined the charges of five counts of murder, various counts of attempted murder and various counts of dangerous bodily harm (fit) a precautionary measure of pre-trial detention,” police said in a statement early on Sunday.
“The accused was issued for remand to correctional facility accordingly.”
The police also shared more information about the victims of Friday’s attack. Among the dead were a nine-year-old boy and four women, ages 45, 52, 67 and 75, the statement said.
The attack has prompted confusion and anger from both the public and politicians, and raised questions about possible security lapses just two months before federal elections in which immigration is likely to be a flashpoint issue.
Germany had heightened security at Christmas markets — a staple of the festive season — after a deadly car ramming in Berlin in 2016.
But Tom-Oliver Langhans, the police chief of Magdeburg, said on Saturday that the attacker accessed the market through emergency exit points, which are used in normal circumstances for ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
At that same conference, city official Ronni Krug maintained that the security concept for the Magdeburg Christmas market was “under constant revision and modification.”
“This case must first be investigated by the police, how this could come about,” Krug continued. I won’t engage in speculation. But you can be assure that after we have received an assessment from our police colleagues we will continue to update the security concept that we are constantly updating anyway.”
The police also provided further details of the victims of Friday’s attack. The dead include a nine-year-old boy and four women, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75, according to the statement.
The attack has sparked confusion and anger from the public and politicians, with questions raised over possible security failings so soon before federal elections that are expected to see immigration as a key flashpoint issue.
Germany increased security at Christmas markets – a staple of the festive season – after a deadly car ramming in Berlin in 2016.
But Magdeburg police chief Tom-Oliver Langhans said Saturday that the attacker managed to enter the market through emergency exit points reserved for ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
City official Ronni Krug was at the same conference, and said the security concept for the Magdeburg Christmas market was “constantly being revised and modified.”
First, the police must investigate how this case could even come about,” Krug said. I’m not going to be speculative. But we will, of course, update security concept, which we are continuously updating anyway, as soon as we have arrived at an assMyear with our colleagues from the police.”
Saudi warnings