Two days after the Magdeburg attack, in which five people died and hundreds were injured, there is an increasing debate in Germany about whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
Interior Minister Nancy Feser promised a swift investigation. "Every stone will be turned over", she said. According to Dirk Wiese, deputy chairman of the Social Democratic parliamentary group, the latest information raises serious questions about "the work of the security services at the national level and in the state of Saxony-Anhalt".
There are many reports that the man was dangerous
It is clear that there have been reports for a long time that Taleb A. posed a potential danger, ARD writes. For example, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) received information about the alleged perpetrator at the end of the summer, according to its own data. It was a message that was spread on social media. "It was taken seriously, like all other information", the BAMF says. But since this office does not deal with investigations, the information received was passed on to the investigating authorities.
MDR investigations show that the Magdeburg police issued a warning to Taleb A. last year, but he did not show up to receive it. It is not clear whether an attempt was made to meet him in person or whether the warning was sent by post.
The police issue such warnings to people who have not been charged. But it must have specific facts that lead to the assumption that the person in question could commit a serious crime.
Problems with the authorities for over 10 years
According to information from the ARD, the man attracted the attention of the services more than ten years ago. In 2013, he was sentenced by the District Court in Rostock to pay 900 euros for threats to commit crimes. However, this did not prevent him from receiving asylum.
In Berlin, Taleb A. was investigated for misuse of emergency phone calls. Then he was sentenced again - this time to pay 600 euros.
In addition, in recent years, Taleb A. has also been in conflict with the Council of Ex-Muslims. The doctor, who is originally from Saudi Arabia, "terrorized" organization, says its chairwoman Mina Ahadi.
According to "Spiegel", in November and December Taleb A. visited Magdeburg several times, where he rented a hotel - probably to prepare for the attack.
They called him "Doctor Google"
Recently, Taleb A. lived in the city of Bernburg and worked in a psychiatric clinic. He had been helping prisoners with addictions since 2020, but since the end of October 2024 he stopped for health reasons, the prison explained.
His colleagues had serious doubts about his competence. German media quoted one of them as saying: "We call him Doctor Google". Because before making each diagnosis, he had to do research on the Internet. Many of the patients refused to be examined by him. The management of the psychiatric clinic was also informed of all this.
What is known about the motives?
German media also wrote that the man had constantly made threats online. According to investigators, Taleb A. spoke of "dissatisfaction with the treatment of refugees from Saudi Arabia in Germany".
In addition to his medical work, Taleb A. was an activist and a categorical critic of Islam - especially on social media, where even before the attack he had over 40,000 followers. In an interview with "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" in June 2019, he said: "I am the most aggressive critic of Islam in history."
After supporting Saudi women who fled their homeland for years, at one point Taleb A. writes on his page in English and Arabic: "My advice is - do not apply for asylum in Germany". Therefore, there is no reason to believe that the motivation for his act could be Islamist, terrorism expert Holger Schmidt told ARD.
As for his sympathies for "Alternative for Germany" - he dreamed of a joint project with the right-wing extremist party: "Academy for former Muslims".
ARD also describes events in the life of Taleb A., while between 2011 and 2016 he lived in Stralsund and attended vocational training courses. During this time, he repeatedly dealt with the courts, services and police in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and threatened to commit crimes. His home was even searched after he threatened a judge, but no evidence was found that he was planning an attack.
The man had also made threats in the context of a dispute with the medical association, the state's interior minister, Christian Pagel, told ARD. At the time, he made a reference to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and said he would carry out an act "of international significance that will be remembered for a long time."
What's next for Taleb A.?
Taleb A. is charged with quintuple murder, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm. The Magdeburg prosecutor's office is leading the investigation, and the police are continuing to gather evidence. After the investigation is complete, charges will be filed and a trial is set to begin.
If convicted of murder, Taleb A. is legally sentenced to life in prison. However, if he is found to be mentally ill during the trial, this could have an impact on the sentence, ARD explains.