Europe's far right taps into fears over German market attack — despite the suspect's Islamophobic views
www.nbcnews.com
The suspect's apparent beliefs have muddied attempts to use his alleged killing of five people and injuring 200 others as an anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim cautionary tale.

Summary

A Saudi national, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, drove into a German Christmas market, killing five and injuring 200, sparking far-right narratives about Islamist terrorism and immigration.

However, al-Abdulmohsen was Islamophobic and aligned with Germany’s far-right AfD party. His past posts criticized both Islam and immigration.

While officials have not confirmed a motive, far-right figures initially framed the attack as Islamist terrorism, then pivoted to anti-immigration rhetoric when his beliefs surfaced.

Critics accuse the AfD and others of exploiting the tragedy, while concerns grow over social media’s role in amplifying extremist ideologies.

  • Optional@lemmy.worldEnglish
    241·
    2 days ago

    Classic fascism. “This dastardly attack by our supporter must not be tolerated!”

  • Lucy :3English
    243·
    2 days ago

    Honestly can’t blame a saudi national for being islamophobic, if he only knows the saudi-way of islam. Which, for example, means casually tracking your 16 year old child to germany, to fulfill the double death-sentence he got for not being straight and exiting islam.

      • Lucy :3English
        71·
        2 days ago

        Islamophobic commonly means a general fear of all muslims - probably extending to all arabic looking people. I’d say there’s no justified fear if you’re not in a state which is led by islam - which definitely isn’t the case with germany - or the person you’re facing isn’t a “true” muslim, following their fantasy book to the letter.

        • madcaesar@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          2 days ago

          What’s the word for when you are scared of any adult believing in fairytales and an imaginary friend that talks to them? Becuase I have that!

          • Lucy :3English
            1·
            2 days ago

            I don’t know, and I’m not neutral in this matter.
            But we can start by logically arguing.
            First of all: The people you described would be called mentally ill. Depending on the things they do, they have different levels. Someone not acting on those calls would be mentally ill, but still thinking somewhat clearly and resisting. People that hurt themselves on those calls are just mentally ill. People affecting others are mentally ill, and apparently don’t mind that. They embrace it.
            Fear of the slightly unknown is somewhat understandable, but acting negative of that is not.
            Fear of insanity, not knowing if that will affect you, is understandable too.
            Fear of embracing insanity is logical.

            So, being scared by religions and religious people is logical.