Arab world's reactions to Magdeburg attack reflect ethnic and sectarian tensions

The attack on the Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg has sparked a strong reaction across the Arab world.

Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, were quick to condemn the attack, which has so far killed at least five people and injured 200.

There were mixed reactions across social media, many of which reflected the ongoing sectarian, ethnic, and political polarisation in the Arab world.

Social media users in Arab countries have been quick to discuss the alleged attacker's religious background, highlighting that he had reportedly renounced Islam and become an atheist, according to posts from his X account.

Many have criticised Western media's coverage of the attack, with some people arguing that it hasn’t been given much attention.

Some claimed that the incident hasn't been sensationalised in the way similar attacks often are, alleging that when the perpetrator is Muslim, there is more media coverage.

Social media has highlighted that the suspect, reported to be Taleb A. by the German press, was a dissident of the Saudi regime and that Riyadh had reportedly stripped him of his citizenship and asked Berlin to extradite him. Germany reportedly refused to do so.

Some even went so far as to allege that Saudi Arabia had warned the authorities in this country of the danger posed by the suspect.

Unverified content has also been shared, indicating a WhatsApp conversation dating back more than a year between a Saudi girl and German security services warning that Taleb A. might carry out an attack in Germany. This content remains not officially verified.

Many social media users criticised Western countries' treatment of Arab dissidents under the pretext of protecting human rights and freedom of