Nearly eleven months after the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market, the cause of the 51-year-old’s death came to court. The indictment accuses Taleb al-Abdulmohsen of murdering six people and attempting to murder him in 338 cases. About 180 affected people and their survivors appeared as co-plaintiffs, represented by about 40 attorneys. This was one of the largest trials in post-war German history. To ensure that all affected parties could take part, a temporary courthouse was constructed.
Action – One minute and four seconds
On December 20, 2024, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, then 50 years old, drove through the Magdeburg Christmas market in a 340 hp rental car. According to the Naumburg Prosecutor General’s Office, the journey took one minute and four seconds. He traveled between market stalls at speeds of up to 48 kilometers per hour; an average speed of 27 km/h was determined.
The perpetrator managed to enter the Christmas market between pedestrian traffic lights and concrete block barriers. Misplaced concrete blocks and unsecured gaps later played a significant role in the investigation carried out by a parliamentary inquiry committee. Soon after the crime, al-Abdulmohsen was arrested and detained. Reports later indicated that he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The victims
Six people died in the attack: five women aged between 45 and 75 and a nine-year-old boy. In addition, more than 300 people were injured or traumatized. They don’t just come from Saxony-Anhalt. According to the Federal Victims Representative, those affected by the attack included people from nearly every state. There are also those who come from abroad such as Spain, America and England.
Victims and survivors have the right to participate in this process as co-plaintiffs. For example, they may ask questions and ultimately file criminal charges. Plaintiffs can come to court, but are not required to.
Defendant
Taleb al-Abdulmohsen is from Saudi Arabia. Before his death journey, he worked as a doctor in the penitentiary system in Bernburg (Salzlandkreis). His responsibilities included the psychiatric treatment of criminals in three wards. In early February it emerged that a colleague had become concerned about al-Abdulmohsen’s condition several months before the attack and conveyed the information to his superiors.
Several security authorities also repeatedly dealt with the defendant – but he ultimately failed because he was considered an opponent of the Islamist group.
Al-Abdulmohsen came to Germany in 2006 to complete his specialist training. After his training, he applied for asylum in February 2016 and received asylum as a politically persecuted person in July of the same year.
The process
Regional court Magdeburg originally scheduled nearly 50 days of negotiations until March 12, 2026. The panel led by chief judge Dirk Sternberg conducted negotiations two to three days a week, with a break at the turn of the year. Further dates are possible.
Meanwhile, it remains questionable whether regional courts actually have jurisdiction. Initially they handed the case over to the Federal Prosecutor General in Karlsruhe for criminal prosecution because they believed it was a state security case. However, in early October, the Federal Attorney General rejected the takeover. Authorities assumed the defendant acted “out of personal frustration.”
Courthouse
A special temporary courthouse using lightweight construction has been built for the trial – this will give all affected parties the opportunity to take part in the trial in person. Its dimensions are huge: the listening room is 65 meters long and 30 meters wide. It offers space for approximately 450 plaintiffs and co-plaintiffs and has 200 seats for spectators and media representatives. The state of Saxony-Anhalt is renting the building for the trial period and estimates the cost will be in the single-digit million range.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251110-930-271123/1
