Former Employer of Magdeburg Attacker to Investigate Handling of Health Concerns
The Salus Health Group, former employer of the Magdeburg attacker, has initiated a comprehensive review of how concerns regarding the man’s mental health were handled. The Group announced the suspension of the Medical Director of the Bernburg Forensic Hospital, where the attacker, Taleb A., worked as a ward physician until the end of the ongoing internal investigation.
Background
Salus is a non-profit operator of social and healthcare facilities in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Taleb A., a Saudi Arabian national, had been employed by the organization since 2020. His responsibilities included providing psychiatric care to inmates in the forensic ward of the Bernburg hospital.
On December 25, 2022, A. drove a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six people and injuring approximately 300.
Concerns Raised by Colleagues
In early February, it emerged that colleagues had raised concerns about A.’s mental state several months prior to the attack. These concerns were communicated to superiors.
In a conversation with a colleague in his office, A. reportedly stated that he was engaged in "a war, not in a metaphorical sense, but in a real war, whose outcome will be either dying or killing." A colleague subsequently sent an email expressing the need for intervention and offering help to A.
The Medical Director of the hospital, who received the email, dismissed A.’s statements as "an exaggerated expression of personal conflict." It was also known that A. had renounced Islam and was active as an activist.
Salus Response
In light of the tragedy, Salus has implemented a series of measures to address the situation:
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Internal Investigation: The company’s legal department will conduct a thorough review of all official documents and communications related to Taleb A. from the date of his employment to his termination on December 23, 2024.
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Whistleblower Portal: Salus will establish an anonymous whistleblower portal to facilitate the reporting of concerns.
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External Experts: The company will engage independent experts in the fields of labor law and psychiatry to provide external perspectives and assess the handling of A.’s case.
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Review of Findings: The investigation will determine the extent to which the hospital was aware of any potential mental health issues faced by A.
Ongoing Investigation
The ongoing investigation aims to shed light on the following key questions:
- Were there any missed opportunities to intervene and provide appropriate support to A.?
- Did the hospital follow established protocols and guidelines in responding to concerns?
- What lessons can be learned to prevent similar incidents in the future?
The Salus Group has emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in this matter. The findings of the investigation will be made public in due course and will be used to strengthen the company’s policies and procedures regarding employee mental health.
