German Christmas Market Attack: Berlin Denies Saudi Extradition Request of Suspect as Musk Calls Scholz 'Fool'

Berlin, Germany - 22 December 2024

In a shocking turn of events,Berlin's government has denied a request from Saudi Arabia to extradite one of the suspects in the deadly German Christmas market attack that claimed six lives earlier this month. The denial comes amid mounting international pressure on Berlin to cooperate with Saudi authorities.

According to sources close to the investigation team, the Saudi Arabian government had requested the extradition of the suspect, who is believed to have provided logistical support to the attackers. However, Berlin officials have declined to hand over the suspect, citing concerns over potential miscarriages of justice and human rights violations in Saudi Arabia's judicial system.

The decision has sent shockwaves through diplomatic channels, with Saudi envoy to Germany Mohammed Al-Shwali expressing disappointment at the response. "This is a concerning development that undermines trust between our countries," Ambassador Al-Shwali said in a statement issued from Riyadh. "We urge the German government to reconsider its stance and cooperate fully with our request."

Meanwhile, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has waded into the controversy by labeling German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a 'fool' for declining Saudi Arabia's extradition request. In a series of tweets on Saturday evening, Musk expressed his support for Scholz's decision and suggested that the German leader was being foolishly cautious.

"Chancellor @OlafScholz is no fool. He knows how to do business with big players like Saudi," Musk tweeted, sparking widespread debate on Twitter about the role of international diplomacy in cases involving terrorism.

The incident has raised questions about Germany's willingness to cooperate with foreign governments on counter-terrorism efforts and its stance on human rights issues. As the investigation into the Christmas market attack continues, it remains to be seen how this crisis will be resolved.