Berlin, Dec 22 (Reuters) — Saudi authorities are expressing frustration after German intelligence agencies failed to act on multiple warnings about Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, the suspect allegedly behind a deadly vehicle attack on the Magdeburg market in Germany. According to sources, Saudi officials have been working tirelessly to provide the German investigation with any and all information related to al-Abdulmohsen, but they claim their prior warnings about his extremist views were ignored.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, located behind the fortified walls of its imposing Riyadh headquarters, has made it clear that it had raised red flags about al-Abdulmohsen years before the market attack. The Saudis reportedly sent four “Notes Verbal” to Germany — three of which were addressed to intelligence agencies and one to the German Foreign Ministry. Yet, according to Saudi officials, there was no response to any of these communications.
The lack of action by German authorities raises questions about their handling of intelligence, especially considering that al-Abdulmohsen had been granted asylum in Germany in 2016. This was a year after former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s controversial decision to open Germany’s borders to more than a million migrants from the Middle East. Al-Abdulmohsen’s case is further complicated by his long-standing residence in Germany, where he had lived for almost a decade before seeking asylum.
Al-Abdulmohsen’s background, however, makes him an unusual figure in the context of Saudi Arabia. Born in Hofuf, a town in the country’s eastern province, he left Saudi Arabia at the age of 32, settling in Europe. While Saudi Arabia enforces strict religious laws, including prohibitions on public worship outside of Islam, al-Abdulmohsen openly renounced his faith, declaring himself a heretic in the eyes of many. He became active in the ex-Muslim community, founding a website designed to help Saudi women flee the country for Europe, and later describing himself on social media as both a psychiatrist and the head of a Saudi rights movement.
Saudi authorities have long had concerns about al-Abdulmohsen, and it is believed the country’s Ministry of Interior (Mabaatheth) kept a comprehensive file on him. Reports suggest that he may have been involved in people trafficking, specifically aiding individuals attempting to flee Saudi Arabia for the West. The Saudi government has also been monitoring the activities of dissident Saudis abroad, including those in Canada, the US, and Germany, with surveillance becoming a prominent feature of the kingdom’s efforts to control its diaspora.
In recent years, there have been multiple reports of dissidents being subjected to harassment or worse while living in exile. Despite these concerns, German authorities reportedly failed to respond to Saudi warnings about al-Abdulmohsen’s extremism. This negligence, the Saudis contend, may have put Germany at greater risk.
Al-Abdulmohsen’s attack on the Magdeburg market was devastating, with reports suggesting that he drove his BMW into a crowd, causing casualties. German authorities have faced criticism for their failure to secure emergency access routes to the Alter Markt area, which allowed the suspect to enter the scene of the attack. While German officials have defended the market’s layout, they acknowledge that an investigation into al-Abdulmohsen’s past is ongoing.
The failure to act on Saudi warnings, along with the inadequate security measures at the market, has led to questions about the German government’s preparedness in handling such threats. Some officials argue that Germany’s reluctance to respond to intelligence from Saudi Arabia is a consequence of the complex diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
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Saudi Arabia, despite being a longstanding ally of the West, remains a deeply controversial player on the global stage due to its human rights record. Under the de facto leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has made strides in opening up public life, allowing women to drive and hosting major international sporting events. However, the country continues to face widespread criticism for its lack of political and religious freedoms. In recent years, harsh prison sentences have been handed down for simple social media posts, and any form of dissent is swiftly silenced.
The paradox of Saudi Arabia’s rising global profile amid its ongoing domestic repression has created a challenging diplomatic environment. For Germany, ignoring warnings from its ally could be seen as a failure to balance national security concerns with political considerations.
As the investigation into Taleb al-Abdulmohsen’s attack continues, many are left wondering whether Germany’s oversight of the suspect’s extremist ties could have prevented the tragedy. With tensions rising over the suspect’s background, questions about the role of foreign intelligence agencies in protecting national security are only likely to intensify in the coming months.
