Attack in Magdeburg: security concept and police work under criticism

As of: December 25, 2024 4:33 p.m

In the course of the investigation into the attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, the focus is now also on the security concept and police work. What mistakes were made? The BKA creates a case history of the perpetrator.

In addition to the investigation into the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market, we are also looking for errors in police work. Among other things, it concerns a police vehicle that was not at a designated location, as the Interior Ministry in Magdeburg announced when asked.

At the time of the attack, police vehicles were stationed at the four designated locations around the Magdeburg Christmas market, the ministry said. “According to the current status of the investigation, a police vehicle was in the parking bay for taxis on Ernst-Reuter-Allee and therefore not at the location intended according to the police operational concept.” Why this was the case is the subject of further investigation.

Criminal charges against the city and Police inspection

Questions about the security concept of the organizer of the Christmas market would also be addressed. It’s about what the concept intended to protect the market and thus also the technical security of escape and rescue routes. “It will be examined whether these measures have been implemented by the organizer and if not, why not.”

The ministry also announced that the public prosecutor’s office had filed a criminal complaint against the city of Magdeburg and the Magdeburg police station. “This means that the security concept of the organizer of the Christmas market and the police operational concept as well as their respective implementation could also become the subject of criminal investigations.” In this case, the Halle (Saale) police station would, if necessary, take over the police investigation.

BKA investigates the perpetrator

The Bundestag Interior Committee wants to discuss the case next Monday. By then, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior want to present a case chronology on the perpetrator of the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market. The dpa news agency learned this on Monday after representatives of security authorities briefed internal politicians in the Bundestag from among the participants.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) and the head of the Federal Criminal Police Office, Holger Münch, have promised parliamentarians an overview of the case. It should be about which authorities had which information about the perpetrator Taleb A. at what time and how they were followed up. Authorities in at least six federal states are said to have had dealings with him. The information should now be compiled into an overall picture.

Faeser warns AfD Instrumentalization

Federal Interior Minister Faeser announced that she wanted to create transparency. When asked whether the security authorities should not have prevented the attack, the SPD politician told the Funke media group: “This will be examined very carefully in the investigations into this terrible act. Every stone will be turned over here – and full transparency will be achieved.”

Faeser warned the AfD against instrumentalizing the attack. “Any attempt to exploit such a terrible act and abuse the suffering of the victims is disgusting,” said the SPD politician. “It just shows the character of those who do something like that.”

After the attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market last Friday, the AfD held a rally in the city on Monday, which, according to police reports, around 3,500 people took part. AfD chairwoman Alice Weidel said there, referring to the perpetrator Taleb A., that anyone who despises the citizens of the country that granted him asylum “does not belong to us.” During the event, “Deport! Deport! Deport!” was repeated over and over again. chanted. Weidel said they finally wanted to live in safety again.

Investigations into the perpetrator are ongoing

The perpetrator, who was in custody, drove a car through the Christmas market in the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt on Friday evening. Five people were killed and more than 200 injured. The investigation into the motivation of the doctor, who comes from Saudi Arabia and came to Germany in 2006, is ongoing. Recently he had spoken out in increasingly confused and radical ways on social media. In a recent interview, the 50-year-old revealed himself to be a fan of X boss Elon Musk and the AfD, which pursues the same goals as him – but described himself as politically left-wing.

Faeser now emphasized again: “We are doing everything we can to clear up this crime. We mourn those killed and our thoughts are with their families.” Everything is being done in the hospitals to help people who have suffered the most serious injuries. “Right now we also have to be there for the first responders and emergency services who have experienced terrible things and have surpassed themselves,” said the Federal Interior Minister.

How do we call Taleb A.?

As a rule, she speaks daily news in the case of acts of violence and crimes, up to a verdict of “alleged perpetrator” or, depending on the wording, also of “suspect”. Because: Every person who is accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty by law.
We make an exception if the perpetrator is well documented. This is also the case with the Magdeburg attack. Here the crime took place in public. Taleb A. was arrested after getting out of the crime vehicle. That’s why in the future we will speak of Taleb A. as the perpetrator and driver of death and will not use the addition “presumably”.

The press code also provides for this procedure. Guideline 13.1 states: “The press may describe a person as a perpetrator if (…) he committed the crime in full view of the public. In the language of reporting, the press is not bound to legal terms that apply to… are irrelevant to the reader.”