Elon Musk jabs German government over market attack suspect’s ‘fugitive’ status

Elon Musk, poised to join US President-elect Donald Trump’s administration as an outside adviser, on Saturday took a jibe at the German government for refusing to extradite a suspect wanted by Saudi Arabia for terrorism charges, following the arrest of a 50-year-old Saudi national in connection with a deadly attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. Musk in a post on X said that “whoever refused to extradite a murderer deserves to be punished severely!”

The suspect, identified as Taleb A, was arrested by German authorities after allegedly driving a car into a crowded market, killing two and injuring 68. Taleb, who has been described as an ex-Muslim and critic of Islam, was linked to far-right politics in Germany, with reports showing his support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Saudi Arabia had requested his extradition on terrorism charges, including accusations of smuggling girls from the Middle East to the European Union. Despite this, Germany granted Taleb asylum and refused to send him back to Saudi Arabia, a decision that Musk condemned as “insane.”

Taleb’s arrest came amid heightened political tension in Germany. The country is gearing up for a central election in February next year, following the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government after a recent confidence vote. The AfD, which has grown in influence since its founding in 2013, has gained support in eastern Germany, with its anti-immigration stance resonating among voters.

Earlier today, Musk in a post on X voiced his support for the AfD party, which is being watched by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.

“Only the AfD can save Germany,” the tech billionaire wrote on X.

The German government declined to comment on Musk’s support for the far-right party, while the AfD has continued to push its hardline positions on immigration and Islam, NBC News reported.