The Saxony-Anhalt State Criminal Police Office (LKA) has concluded that there is no evidence to suggest the perpetrator of the Magdeburg Christmas market attack, Taleb A., was directed or influenced by Russian intelligence services. This finding is detailed in the final report on the December 20th, 2024 incident, which resulted in six fatalities and over 300 injuries, as reported by “Der Spiegel”.
Following a series of attacks and violent incidents leading up to the federal elections, speculation arose regarding potential Russian involvement. To investigate this possibility, the LKA meticulously examined all 7,364 contacts stored on the perpetrator’s mobile phone. The investigation revealed no connections to Russian telephone numbers, nor did GPS data indicate any travel to Russia by the individual.
The LKA also scrutinized data from “Google Trends” to determine if suspicious internet searches predated the attacks, mirroring patterns observed in other 2024 incidents. However, the agency deemed the tool unreliable, citing its potential to generate misleading information and concluding it offered no additional value to the Magdeburg investigation.
The report affirms that there are no indications of any connection between the act and foreign or Russian intelligence services. Investigators are confident that Taleb A., a physician originally from Saudi Arabia, acted alone, without the involvement of any accomplices or supporters. Furthermore, the LKA determined that the purported “Saudi Military Opposition” group, to which Taleb A. claimed affiliation on the platform X, does not exist. It is believed he may have falsely presented himself as part of a group to amplify the perceived threat.