Saudi Arabia reportedly issued multiple warnings to German authorities about a man suspected of carrying out a deadly attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, sources familiar with the communications have revealed. The attack resulted in the deaths of five people and left more than 200 injured.
According to one source, the Saudi government sent four official notifications, known as “Notes Verbal,” to German intelligence services, with one also directed to Germany’s foreign ministry. These warnings identified the individual as Taleb A., who has since been named in German media. Despite these alerts, German authorities allegedly disregarded the warnings.
The Saudi warnings outlined concerns about the man’s activities, which included attempts to persuade Saudis to abandon their country and religion. Saudi authorities had identified him as holding “fairly radical perspectives,” according to the source.
CNN previously reported that Saudi Arabia had alerted Germany about the suspect on three occasions, with the first warning dating back to 2007. At the time, Saudi officials raised alarms about Taleb A.’s radical views, which they claimed posed a threat.
Extradition Request Refused
Saudi Arabia also considers Taleb A. a fugitive and requested his extradition between 2007 and 2008. However, German authorities refused, citing concerns for his safety should he be returned to Saudi Arabia. During this period, Saudi officials claimed that Taleb A. harassed Saudis abroad who opposed his political ideology.
The suspect’s ideological evolution appears to have added to Saudi Arabia’s concerns. According to the source, Taleb A. became a supporter of the far-right German party Alternative for Germany (AfD) and adopted radical anti-Islamic views, intensifying tensions between him and Saudi officials.
German Response
When CNN reached out for a comment on the matter, Germany’s foreign ministry referred the inquiry to the Ministry of Interior, which then redirected it to the public prosecutor’s office in Magdeburg.
The revelations raise questions about whether earlier intervention could have prevented the tragic Christmas market attack. The apparent neglect of Saudi warnings by German authorities will likely become a point of intense scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.
