Overview
- Taleb Jawad al‑Abdulmohsen faces six counts of murder and 338 counts of attempted murder, with a possible life sentence if convicted.
- In court he stated, "I am the one that drove the car," and delivered lengthy remarks that veered into political themes, including displaying a laptop with slogans.
- During his initial testimony he apologized to the family of the nine‑year‑old boy who was killed, according to reporting from the courtroom.
- Prosecutors say he drove a rented BMW X3 through the market for about 64 seconds at speeds up to 48 kph, killing a boy and five women and injuring more than 300 people.
- The case is being heard in a temporary high‑security hall with a bullet‑proof dock and hundreds of co‑plaintiffs and witnesses, as the court also faces questions over reported 2024 warnings from Saudi authorities and the market’s physical security.