A deadly attack on a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, which left five people dead and over 200 injured, has been strongly condemned by Kurdish leaders and organisations. There are conflicting reports about the attacker’s background, and his motive remains unclear.
Mazloum Abdi, General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), condemned the attack on X, formerly Twitter, and offered his condolences to the families of the victims and the German government. He called the incident a reminder of the importance of “intensifying international efforts to combat terrorism wherever it exists”.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) also condemned the attack and reaffirmed its commitment to “working together to combat extremism, terrorism and all threats to regional and international security”.
The Cologne-based umbrella organisation of Islamic-Kurdish communities in Germany (DIKG) expressed horror at the attack, describing it as ‘barbaric and inhuman’. DIKG chairman Ahmet Turhallı stressed the organisation’s commitment to democracy and multicultural harmony, saying: “We will continue to stand up for democracy and peace, and work still harder to unite our society on the basis of human values.
The suspect, identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian doctor living in Germany since 2006, has sparked debate. While initial reports suggest he held anti-Islamic views and sympathised with the far-right AfD party, new allegations portray him as an Islamist terrorist engaging in deceptive tactics.
Screenshots circulating on social media have added to the debate about the attacker’s motives. It has been alleged that Abdulmohsen tweeted earlier this year threatening to kill “twenty Germans”. He is also alleged to have told a young Saudi woman that he would “bring justice to Germany” by the end of 2024, and expressed his intention to target innocent civilians. Allegations of these threats, along with claims that he used deceptive tactics to hide his Islamist beliefs, have fuelled suspicions about his possible links to extremist ideologies.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation and questions about the attacker’s motives.
