Magdeburg, Germany Christmas in a city in mourning - commemoration in Magdeburg
Flowers, candles, cuddly toys: After the attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market that left five people dead and up to 235 injured, there is no end to the grief and sympathy in the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt. Citizens laid flowers at the central memorial site at St. John's Church on Christmas Eve, many with tears in their eyes.
24.12.2024, 14:48
SDA
On the neighboring Alter Markt, which is part of the now closed Christmas market, mourners also expressed their sympathy with flowers and candles. "I couldn't come here at first because it shocked me too much," a pensioner told the German Press Agency. "But I wanted to be here today. After all, it's Christmas."
Memorial concert on Boxing Day
In his Christmas address, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for solidarity. Magdeburg Theater wants to commemorate the victims with a concert on Boxing Day. According to the theater, 200 free tickets will be distributed to those affected, relatives of the victims, rescue workers and first responders. They will be available for collection at the box office.
The perpetrator, Taleb A., who is now in custody, raced through the Christmas market in a car on Friday evening. Investigations into the motivation of the doctor, who comes from Saudi Arabia and arrived in Germany in 2006, are ongoing. Recently, he has become increasingly confused and radical on social media. In a recent interview, the 50-year-old revealed himself to be a fan of X-owner Elon Musk and the AfD, which pursues the same goals as him - but described himself as politically left-wing.
Authorities in several countries had dealings with Taleb A.
Police officers continued their crime scene work on Tuesday. When asked, a spokeswoman for the Magdeburg police station said that officers from the state police were on site to carry out "documentary work" as part of the investigation.
According to the German Press Agency, the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior want to present a case chronology on the perpetrator this year. The aim is to compile which authorities had what information about Taleb A. at what time and how this was followed up. Authorities in at least six federal states are said to have had dealings with him.
Konstantin von Notz, deputy leader of the Green parliamentary group, criticized in the "Rheinische Post": "Once again, there appears to have been an overall lack of knowledge about the perpetrator and the threat he posed and a problem in bringing together the various pieces of information." The attack in Magdeburg reminded him of the attack on Berlin's Breitscheidplatz eight years ago.
Federal President urges cohesion
Federal President Steinmeier's Christmas address was also dominated by the attack. "Hate and violence must not have the last word. Let us not allow ourselves to be driven apart. Let us stand together," said Steinmeier in the speech published in advance. Many people's hearts will be heavy this Christmas. Many will be agitated and unsettled, perhaps even afraid. "All these feelings are understandable. But they must not dominate us and they must not paralyze us."
According to police, around 4,000 people in Magdeburg remembered the victims of the attack with a human chain on Monday evening and took a stand against political appropriation by the right. At the same time, the AfD organized a rally in the city, which police said was attended by around 3,500 people. Referring to the perpetrator, party leader Alice Weidel said that anyone who despises the citizens of the country that granted him asylum "does not belong to us". During the event, there were repeated chants of "Deport! Deport! Deport!" was chanted repeatedly.
