Magdeburg pinned on a map of Germany. A map with pink pin-point of Magdeburg in Germany, the place the horrific Magdeburg assault befell simply earlier than Christmas. The problems surrounding the assault are arguably being weaponised forward of German elections.
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Politicians and social media customers are being accused of spinning lies for political acquire.
The lethal assault in Magdeburg – carried out by a Saudi-born activist – is quick turning into a flashpoint for political gamesmanship as Germany inches nearer to its federal elections. The tragic incident, the place a automobile was used as a weapon for mass homicide, and intentionally pushed right into a bustling Christmas market, killing six and injuring over 200, is getting used to advertise ideologies; performed up by some, performed down by others. It’s an ideological tug-of-war between populist actions at each extremes of the spectrum. Deceptive claims are nonetheless being peddled by each web customers and politicians, sparking outrage and division.
Who’s Abdulmohsen? The thriller behind the Magdeburg Christmas market assault suspect
The suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a Saudi-born man who has lived in Germany since 2006, is now in police custody, however because the investigation unfolds, surprising particulars are rising in regards to the man behind the wheel.
Abdulmohsen, 50, is a psychiatrist who had been residing in Bernburg, about 30 miles south of Magdeburg. On paper, he doesn’t match the profile of a typical attacker.
Abdulmohsen has an extended historical past of outspoken anti-Islam views. His social media profiles, filled with conspiracy theories and anti-Muslim rhetoric, paint the image of a person who had deserted his religion to turn out to be a vocal critic of it. Abdulmohsen additionally, surprisingly, brazenly aligned himself with far-right teams, expressing sympathy for Germany’s controversial Various for Germany (AfD) occasion, recognized for its anti-immigration stance.
In 2013, he was fined for making threats, and by 2015, he was threatening to hold out acts of violence in opposition to judges. Regardless of this, he was granted asylum in 2016 on the grounds of ‘political persecution.’
German authorities had been conscious of Abdulmohsen’s more and more excessive views. Saudi officers even despatched a number of warnings to Germany about his ‘very excessive views,’ however he was by no means thought-about a risk. German police mentioned they’d investigated him, however with no proof of violent behaviour, they deemed any risk to be ‘too unspecific.’
However regardless of his vocal criticism of Islam, Abdulmohsen’s motivations for the Magdeburg assault stay unclear. Whereas his anti-Islamic views have been properly documented, police have acknowledged it’s nonetheless too early to find out whether or not the assault was politically motivated.
Faux information on the assault spreads like wildfire
One infamous video doing the rounds reveals Berlin police allegedly arresting Muslim extremists the day after the Magdeburg assault. It’s a video that has been weaponised by some to fire up concern and hatred. However right here’s the kicker: fact-checkers have already stepped in, revealing that this footage was really filmed a day earlier than the assault and reveals police arresting pro-Palestine demonstrators at Berlin’s Central Prepare Station, not Islamic extremists. But, that hasn’t stopped the lies from circulating like wildfire.
Politicians leap on the bandwagon
Politicians have additionally discovered a approach to politicise the tragedy. Alice Weidel, co-chair of the far-right AfD occasion, wasted no time in condemning the assault, labelling the perpetrator an “Islamist full of hatred.” Standing earlier than a vigil on December 23, Weidel declared: “An act past the creativeness of all current. An act by an Islamist filled with hatred for what constitutes human cohesion. On us people. On us Germans. On us Christians.”
The assault has thrown immigration and safety points into the highlight within the lead-up to Germany’s elections. Weidel’s far-right rhetoric has discovered an viewers, and her occasion’s hardline stance on immigration is gaining momentum. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Germany’s largest opposition occasion, has jumped on the bandwagon, pushing for a extra stringent immigration coverage in its newest manifesto.
Weird contradictions- Is the suspect and Islamist or a far proper extremist?
It’s arduous to find out what the suspect’s motivation was, and German authorities are nonetheless piecing the puzzle collectively. Whereas he printed anti-Islam content material on social media and professed his love for the far-right, his profile and background don’t match that of a far-right extremist both. Was this somebody with deep psychological well being points and no clear, coherent motive? Or was this a colder, extra calculated transfer? Might the far-right extremist social media posts be a decoy? Safety forces have many questions, however on factor is evident whereas they piece collectively the data they will discover, politicians and social media customers are utilizing the problem to steer public opinion in direction of their very own agenda.
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