The government of Germany (accused of possible errors after the deadly accident at the Christmas market in Magdeburg) estimated on Monday that the tragedy could not have been avoided and highlighted the “pathological psyche” of the alleged perpetrator of the attack.
The Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeserquestioned for several hours by a parliamentary committee, stated that the ongoing investigation “does not yet offer a clear picture” of the “author’s motives.”
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But he highlighted “the miles of statements” that Taleb Jawad al Abdulmohsen made over the years on social media, which show “signs of a pathological psyche.”
Since December 20, Germany has been seeking to clarify the reasons that led to this 50 year old Saudi doctorestablished in Germany since 2006, to run over passers-by at a Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg, in the east, with a BMW SUV at full speed, causing five deaths and more than 200 injuries.
Several voices from the opposition and some media outlets accuse the authorities of serious errors in judgment, since the alleged perpetrator, detained in his vehicle at the scene of the drama, had given multiple worrying signs in the past.
The German government under pressure
The alleged aggressor, known for his opinions hostile to Islam after breaking with his religion and his country of origin, “does not fit into any previous scheme” known to the authorities, the minister tried to explain.
“There are tens of thousands of tweets from the aggressor. That’s why not everything is still on the table,” added Faeser, in response to criticism about the lack of a clear response ten days after the event.
The German government is under pressure after the attack, ahead of early legislative elections on February 23.
The suspect, a trained psychiatrist with a personality that is difficult to decipher, had expressed his hatred of Islam, his anger against the German immigration services and his support for far-right conspiracy theories.
According to the court, the man appears to have acted to denounce the lack of support from the German authorities for Saudi refugees, who like him broke with their country.
In 2013 he was sentenced to a fine in northeastern Germany for “disturbing public order” and “threats to commit crimes.” At that time, he was already threatening to commit an attack.
Saudi Arabia had requested his extradition to Berlin, after warning several times that “it could be dangerous,” a source close to the Riyadh government told AFP.
The German police, after assessing the “risk”, demonstrated last year that they did not present a “particular danger”.
(With information from AFP)
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