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Terrorist attack in Germany.

(203 Posts)
Sago Fri 20-Dec-24 21:06:10

So sad reading of this evenings terror attack in Germany.
A simple pleasure walking around a Christmas market will probably become a thing of the past.

I have been to a Christmas market in Strasbourg, I was so nervous as the Police presence was high, they were searching bags, we were all being funnelled into the old town.

I knew if there was an incident it would be carnage.

I told my husband I was unhappy and had a sixth sense that something would happen.
We left the town centre and walked around the parks.
My husband was patient but thought I was being a drama queen!

The following day there was a terrorist attack.

In hindsight the powers that knew there was a high risk.

I pray that all those injured survive.

Galaxy Sun 22-Dec-24 11:27:28

I think we are way behind in our definition of terrorism, the world has moved on.

Wyllow3 Sun 22-Dec-24 11:12:41

Counter-terrorist and police look for connections, patterns, evidence of planning, evidence of violent threats, materials connected with bomb-making, connections to known terrorist groups.
He didn't fit these patterns. How can authorities monitor all the individuals who spout conspiracy theories on the internet.podcasts?

It's not a matter of "playing a card". M61, when it comes to these really appalling severe examples. It is what it is.

Nano14 Sun 22-Dec-24 11:10:52

Iam64

I’m expecting to be criticised for this but I find it hard to believe there aren’t mental health or underlying personality problems here. In saying this, I’m in no way excusing his behaviour

I agree. After reading some of his contradictory posts, I think he maybe has serious mental health problems.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 22-Dec-24 11:06:14

Oreo

It’s an unusual case, with the reasoning about the ‘why’ but sadly no lessons to be learned from this apart from completely surrounding the market with concrete bollards .

lessons will be learned I am so fed up with this soundbite, it is completely and utterly pointless, just empty words.

Mt61 Sun 22-Dec-24 11:00:27

I don’t care who he is, or who he supports or stands for- he’s used that car as a weapon. No doubt he will pull the MH card. Governments have a duty of care to their people to keep them safe, if they knew about him.

Oreo Sun 22-Dec-24 10:54:18

It’s an unusual case, with the reasoning about the ‘why’ but sadly no lessons to be learned from this apart from completely surrounding the market with concrete bollards .

GrannyGravy13 Sun 22-Dec-24 10:43:41

This is how the Oxford dictionary defines terrorism

The calculated use of violence or threat of violence to inculcate fear. Terrorism is intended to coerce or intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious or ideological

This man thought the government was against him…

MaizieD Sun 22-Dec-24 10:23:24

Galaxy

It is reported he was accused of rape in SA, often there is sexual violence in the background, I am sure there are underlying mental health problems but I dont see what difference it makes.

It makes him not a 'terrorist' as we commonly understand the word, i.e a member of a particular group working to destroy or take revenge on a particular regime, but a disturbed individual committing an unspeakable atrocity because they are disturbed.

It's not exactly a novel occurrence, is it? We have had it happen in the UK.. Remember the Dunblane shooting?

Wyllow3 Sun 22-Dec-24 10:22:31

He had gone utterly beyond paranoid when he attacked.

Completely lost touch with reality.

Just re- read FGT's report above about this paranoia and parts of this report under "who is the suspect"

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy09y32rlnxo

He'd been investigated a year ago " the suspect "had various contacts with authorities, insulted them and even made threats, but he was not known for violent acts"."

In the end he believed everyone had turned against him and "they" -the German authorities - were trying to kill him. Something - we dont know what - then triggered the attack.

There's no logic to be found. It will never make sense.

Galaxy Sun 22-Dec-24 09:51:51

Yes it was a brilliant decision by the German authorities.

Witzend Sun 22-Dec-24 09:49:55

petra

Franski

Suggest Germany deports him back to Saudi Arabia. He can rant his anti-Islamic sentiments to them.

Saudi Arabia have made 3 requests for his extradition. All 3 refused.

Presumably because at those times, he hadn’t AFAIK - by German standards - done anything to warrant extradition. Saudi Arabia is not exactly renowned for its human rights, and certainly doesn’t take kindly to anyone critical of Islam or of Saudi rulers, laws or government.

Galaxy Sun 22-Dec-24 09:46:28

It is reported he was accused of rape in SA, often there is sexual violence in the background, I am sure there are underlying mental health problems but I dont see what difference it makes.

Iam64 Sun 22-Dec-24 09:40:36

I’m expecting to be criticised for this but I find it hard to believe there aren’t mental health or underlying personality problems here. In saying this, I’m in no way excusing his behaviour

GrannyGravy13 Sun 22-Dec-24 09:21:09

Iam64

his doctorate is in psychiatry or psychiatry. Reports consistently refer to worrying posts on social media. He was anti Islam. Z

He is definitely anti-Christian, his act of terrorism at the Christmas market is proof of that…

Freya5 Sun 22-Dec-24 09:02:06

Iam64

his doctorate is in psychiatry or psychiatry. Reports consistently refer to worrying posts on social media. He was anti Islam. Z

Anti Islam, uhm let's wait and see shall we. Possibly a ploy to put police of his trail. He did complain too much methinks.

Iam64 Sun 22-Dec-24 08:55:13

his doctorate is in psychiatry or psychiatry. Reports consistently refer to worrying posts on social media. He was anti Islam. Z

petra Sun 22-Dec-24 07:36:38

Franski

Suggest Germany deports him back to Saudi Arabia. He can rant his anti-Islamic sentiments to them.

Saudi Arabia have made 3 requests for his extradition. All 3 refused.

nanna8 Sat 21-Dec-24 22:23:12

Awful. I don’t know what to say, it just makes me feel sick.

pascal30 Sat 21-Dec-24 21:58:21

Allira

pascal30

He's apparently an islamophobic psychiatrist..

Yet, in a country which is predominantly Christian, he drives at speed into innocent people at a Christmas market.

I know, very strange.. I wonder if we'll find out why..

Allira Sat 21-Dec-24 19:53:00

pascal30

He's apparently an islamophobic psychiatrist..

Yet, in a country which is predominantly Christian, he drives at speed into innocent people at a Christmas market.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 21-Dec-24 19:04:50

This man appears on BBC interview in 2019 bragging about getting immigrants into Germany.

There are numerous clips of this on social media.

Whatever his motives, his actions fit the definition of terrorism.

Another one to be left to rot in his cell, or alternatively return him to Saudi Arabia as per its many requests.

pascal30 Sat 21-Dec-24 18:59:11

He's apparently an islamophobic psychiatrist..

Franski Sat 21-Dec-24 18:50:48

Suggest Germany deports him back to Saudi Arabia. He can rant his anti-Islamic sentiments to them.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sat 21-Dec-24 15:26:01

The suspected attacker appeared on an US podcast just eight days before his attack in which he made a series of claims that gave insights into his paranoid state of mind.

Speaking to an organisation called the Rair Foundation, Taleb al Abdulmohsen claimed that Germany was persecuting Saudi ex-Muslims and “actively trying to destroy their lives.”

He said this campaign of persecution was being conducted covertly by a “Gestapo-like police unit” and was taking place across the globe.

Germany is “committing serious crimes including sexual abuse, leading Saudi ex-Muslims to consume drugs, and lying in order to deport them to Saudi Arabia to be executed,” he claimed.

He also asserted that German authorities had made his private address public in an attempt to intimidate him or because “they might be planning to do something.”

“They might kill me,” he stated, asking “Why would they expose my address?”

He also said that he had tried to expose this plot to the German public but “most people avoid helping me because they are afraid.”

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Sat 21-Dec-24 15:18:01

Heartbreaking to think he’s killed people in the very country who gave him refugee status in 2016.