Employer of Magdeburg Attacker Received Warnings Weeks Prior
Concerns Raised About Employee’s Mental State
Weeks before the devastating attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market, the employer of the perpetrator, Taleb A., received troubling emails from his colleagues expressing concerns about his mental state. Salus, the healthcare company where A. worked as a psychiatrist, confirmed the receipt of such an email in August 2024.
Alarming Statement Reported
According to a report by Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), the email contained a statement allegedly made by A. in a meeting at work. He reportedly declared that he was engaged in a war with only two possible outcomes: "death or killing."
Workplace Responsibilities
- had been employed at a forensic psychiatric hospital in Bernburg, Saxony-Anhalt, since 2020. His duties involved providing psychiatric care to criminal patients on three wards. Shortly before Christmas, the Saudi Arabian national drove a car into the Magdeburg Christmas market, killing six people and injuring nearly 300 others.
Email Prompts Intervention
In their email, A.’s colleagues urged the company to offer him support. At the time of the email’s receipt, A. was on sick leave, MDR reported. A few days later, he had a meeting with his superiors, but according to Salus, no indications of self-harm or harm to others were present.
Supervisory Knowledge
A Salus spokesperson informed the German Press Agency (dpa) that the email came to the attention of the supervisory board chairman during discussions with staff on February 4. The supervisory board is scheduled to review the matter on February 20.
Prior Contact with Authorities
- was already known to security authorities before the attack. On October 4, 2024, approximately two and a half months prior to the incident, police visited him due to a threat he had made. Through a so-called " Gefährderansprache" (threat assessment), the police aimed to convey that they were monitoring his activities and urged him to refrain from certain behaviors.
Communication Gaps
Despite A.’s role in treating patients and the fact that the threat assessment was conducted at his workplace, there was no exchange of information between his employer and the police. "The reason for the visit to employee Taleb A. was not communicated by the police," a Salus spokesperson stated in January.
Missed Opportunities
The alarming statement and concerns expressed by A.’s colleagues raised red flags that could have potentially prevented the tragedy. However, the lack of communication between Salus and the police and the subsequent failure to take appropriate action allowed the situation to escalate with devastating consequences.
Ongoing Investigations
Both the employer and authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack and their handling of information about A.’s mental state. As the facts continue to emerge, it is crucial to learn from this incident to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
