标签： Europe

A high-profile trial commenced on Monday in Magdeburg, Germany, for a Saudi Arabian doctor accused of orchestrating a devastating attack on a Christmas market last December. The incident, which occurred on December 20, 2024, resulted in the deaths of six individuals and left over 300 others injured. The suspect, identified as Taleb A. in accordance with German privacy laws, allegedly drove a rented BMW at speeds of up to 48 km/h through the crowded market in the heart of Magdeburg. The attack, which lasted just over a minute, took place at 19:02 local time, when the market was bustling with holiday revelers. Taleb A., now 51, faces charges of murdering six people, including a nine-year-old boy and five women aged between 45 and 75. Additionally, he is accused of attempted murder in relation to 338 others, as well as causing grievous bodily harm to 309 individuals and dangerous interference with road traffic. Prosecutors in Naumburg, Saxony-Anhalt, stated that Taleb A. was not under the influence of alcohol or similar substances during the rampage. They believe he acted out of frustration over a civil dispute and the failure of various criminal complaints, aiming to kill an indeterminate number of people. The crime was reportedly planned and prepared meticulously over several weeks without accomplices. Taleb A. has been in custody since the day of the attack and faces life imprisonment if convicted. Due to the large number of victims, a temporary courthouse has been erected in Magdeburg for the trial. This incident adds to a history of attacks on Germany’s Christmas markets, primarily by extreme Islamists. However, Taleb A. was described as an ‘untypical’ attacker, being a refugee from Saudi Arabia who was critical of Islam and expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on social media, praising their efforts to ‘protect Germany.’

Metropolitan Hilarion, the former head of foreign relations for the Russian Orthodox Church, has broken his silence following a series of serious allegations against him. Once a prominent figure in the Church and a potential successor to Patriarch Kirill, Hilarion’s fall from grace began after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While no official reason was given for his exile to Hungary, many observers attribute it to his neutral stance on the war, which contrasted sharply with Patriarch Kirill’s vocal support for Vladimir Putin’s policies. In Putin’s Russia, where criticizing the war is a criminal offense, Hilarion’s refusal to endorse the conflict likely cost him his position. The allegations against Hilarion escalated in June 2024 when George Suzuki, a former aide, accused him of sexual misconduct and collaboration with Russia’s FSB intelligence agency. Suzuki, a 23-year-old Japanese citizen, began working for Hilarion after his arrival in Budapest and has since posted video and audio clips on his YouTube channel to support his claims. Hilarion denies all allegations, stating that some of the evidence has been doctored. He has vowed to refute the accusations in court. Hilarion admits to mistakes in his treatment of Suzuki, including agreeing to financial demands from Suzuki’s family, but maintains his innocence regarding harassment and espionage. The case has gained urgency as the Czech government considers imposing sanctions on Hilarion, potentially forcing him to return to Russia. Despite the ordeal, Hilarion remains loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill. His supporters fear that Kremlin hardliners are targeting him to tarnish his reputation. The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, suggested that the Kremlin’s modus operandi is recognizable in this case. Hilarion’s future remains uncertain as he navigates legal battles and political pressures.

In a significant development, the BBC’s top executives, Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness, stepped down on Sunday following widespread criticism over the broadcaster’s handling of a speech by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The controversy stems from the BBC’s editing of Trump’s address on January 6, 2021, which preceded the storming of the U.S. Capitol by protesters. The public broadcaster faced backlash for its editorial decisions, which were perceived as altering the context of the speech. The resignations mark a pivotal moment for the BBC, raising questions about journalistic integrity and accountability in the face of public scrutiny. The organization has yet to announce replacements for the departing leaders, leaving a leadership vacuum at a critical time.

In the aftermath of the high-profile Louvre museum heist, which saw the theft of the French crown jewels, a peculiar mystery captivated the public: the identity of the ‘fedora man.’ This sharply dressed individual, photographed outside the museum on the day of the robbery, became an overnight sensation on social media, sparking widespread speculation about his role in the incident. While the identities of the thieves were quickly uncovered due to their careless handling of DNA evidence, and the Louvre’s director acknowledged the museum’s inadequate CCTV security, the fedora man’s identity remained unknown—until now. Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux, a 15-year-old from Rambouillet, southwest of Paris, has come forward as the person behind the viral image. Pedro, a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, explained that he had planned to visit the Louvre with his family but found it closed due to the heist. Unaware of the robbery, he was photographed by an Associated Press (AP) photographer while inquiring about the closure. The photo, which included Pedro in his distinctive fedora and waistcoat, quickly went viral, amassing millions of views on TikTok and even appearing in The New York Times. Pedro, who enjoys dressing in a vintage style inspired by 20th-century statesmen and fictional detectives, expressed his astonishment at the sudden fame. ‘I like to be chic,’ he told the AP. ‘I go to school like this.’ Despite the online frenzy and wild theories—ranging from him being a real detective to an AI-generated image—Pedro chose to remain silent for weeks, allowing the mystery to linger. ‘With this photo, there is a mystery, so you have to make it last,’ he said.

Tenerife, a popular holiday destination in Spain’s Canary Islands, has been struck by tragedy as powerful waves claimed three lives and left 15 others injured. Emergency services reported on Sunday that a woman died after being swept into the ocean near the Puerto de la Cruz resort, while a man lost his life in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. A third victim was discovered in the waters near a beach in Granadilla. Rescue teams airlifted a man who fell into the sea at La Guancha in the island’s north, but he later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Another man was found floating near El Cabezo beach in the south, where lifeguards and medical personnel were unable to revive him. At Puerto de la Cruz, a woman died of a heart attack, and 10 others were swept out to sea, with three sustaining serious injuries. Pedro, a local waiter, recounted his heroic efforts to save those in distress, managing to rescue three individuals but tragically failing to save a woman who passed away at the scene. Eyewitness Carlos expressed frustration at tourists ignoring warnings to stay away from the dangerous waves. Authorities have issued alerts for coastal hazards across the Canary Islands, predicting worsening sea conditions with swells reaching two-to-four meters. Both tourists and locals are urged to exercise extreme caution.