BERLIN — A 51-year-old Saudi doctor has been convicted of murder and handed a life prison sentence for carrying out a deadly vehicle attack on a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg in 2024 that claimed six lives.
The defendant, identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, stood trial at the state court in the eastern German city beginning in November. According to German news agency dpa, the court determined that he bears “particularly serious” guilt — a designation that bars him from being considered for release after 15 years, which is the standard provision under German law.
The attack took place on December 20, 2024, and lasted just over one minute. Six people died — five women and one boy — while many others suffered injuries.
Investigators determined that al-Abdulmohsen used a rented BMW X3 to carry out the attack, reaching speeds of up to 48 kilometers per hour, or roughly 30 miles per hour, as he drove through the crowded market. Authorities stated at the time of the indictment that he was not under the influence of alcohol. They believe he acted alone and was motivated by frustration over the outcome of a legal dispute and the failure of various criminal complaints he had filed.
Officials noted that the suspect does not match the typical profile seen in extremist attacks. Al-Abdulmohsen described himself as a former Muslim who was sharply critical of Islam, and his social media activity showed support for far-right views. He had previously drawn attention from authorities due to threatening behavior, but had no known history of physical violence.
The Magdeburg attack was among several incidents involving immigrants that elevated migration as a central issue heading into Germany’s national election in February 2025. Al-Abdulmohsen had come to Germany in 2006 and had been granted permanent residency.
