Germany mourns Christmas market tragedy as massive security failures emerge about Saudi doctor

Hundreds of people gathered at Magdeburg Cathedral for a memorial service to honour the victims of last night's Christmas market attack, where at least five people have been killed. The service was primarily attended by the victims’ relatives, emergency responders, and invited guests.

US President Joe Biden has offered his condolences after the Magdeburg Christmas market attack, which left at least five people dead and over 200 injured. In a statement from the White House, he said: "No community or family should have to endure such a horrific and tragic event, especially so close to a time meant for joy and peace."

Biden affirmed that the US is in close communication with German authorities and stands ready to provide "any resources or assistance required." "The United States will always stand with our allies in the fight against violent terrorism", the statement reads.

Exactly 24 hours after the Christmas market attack, at 19:04, the bells of all churches in Magdeburg and many places of worship in the surrounding area tolled.

To honour the victims of the deadly attack at Magdeburg’s Christmas market, churches in the city and surrounding areas will ring their bells at 7:04 p.m., marking the time of the attack. A memorial service will follow at the cathedral later in the evening. Euronews correspondent Liv Stroud is outside the cathedral.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Saturday drew a direct link between immigration and an attack in Germany where a man drove into a Christmas market.

In a rare appearance before independent media in Budapest, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed his sympathy to the families of the victims of what he referred to as a "terrorist act" in Magdeburg on Friday night. However, the long-serving leader, a strong critic of the European Union, also suggested that the EU's migration policies were to blame for the attack.

The attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg has sparked a debate about safety measures in Germany.

At the press conference, Tom-Oliver Langhans, Director of Magdeburg Police, explained that the suspected perpetrator had "utilised escape and rescue routes" to injure people.

Herbert Reul, Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, said, "We decided today not to increase the number of police officers, because the current number is insufficient. The regulations are good and can be followed. Nevertheless, there is no such thing as 100% safety."

Ronni Krug from the state capital of Magdeburg rejected accusations that the market may not have been secured well enough: "I think our security concept is good because it was coordinated. The case we are now discussing is one that we could not have anticipated in terms of its scale, and that perhaps could not have been prevented."

"As things stand at present, the background could have been dissatisfaction with the treatment of Saudi Arabian refugees in Germany," prosecutor Horst Walter Nopens said during a press conference.

"Through their selfless efforts, they saved lives. My deepest thanks go to the Magdeburg emergency services. The experiences at the Christmas market will stay with them for a long time. Some have shared with me the heartbreaking and distressing situations they faced," Scholz wrote in his post on X.

In remembrance of the victims of the deadly attack at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, churches will hold a symbolic act this evening.

"At 7:04 pm, the time of yesterday's attack, the bells of all churches in Magdeburg and surrounding areas will ring," announced the Evangelical Church in Central Germany (EKM). The bells will also chime in Catholic churches, and a memorial service will take place at the cathedral later in the evening.

Counter-terrorism consultant Rebecca Schönenbach commented on X, saying, "Education does not prevent radicalisation [...]"

Euronews reached out to Schönenbach to comment further on her statement.

Schönenbach explained: "Highly educated individuals are often found in organised terrorist groups. For example, the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned in Germany, has historically advertised themselves at universities."

Read the full story in the link below:

Education alone can’t prevent radicalisation, security expert says

Educational measures alone are insufficient to prevent radicalisation, says counter-terrorism consultant Rebecca Schönenbach.…

The Magdeburg Hospital in Olvenstedt reported that all 11 seriously injured patients treated at the centre are out of danger.

120 nursing staff and two dozen doctors came to help and work voluntarily.

The chancellor called on the nation to stand together against hate saying "We need to stay together as a country, stick together and talk to each other. That it is not hatred that determines our togetherness, but the fact that we are a community that wants to win a common future."

"What a terrible act it is to injure and kill so many people there with such brutality. We have now learned that over 200 people have been injured. Five have died so far. An incredible number, almost 40, are so seriously injured that we must be very worried about them. And that is why this is a terrible, tragic event in which we must all show our sympathy with the relatives, with the injured and with the city of Magdeburg," he added.

Speaking to the press in Magdeburg, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, "There is no place more peaceful or serene than a Christmas market. This is a tragic and devastating event, and nothing must be left unanswered. The crime must be fully investigated".

The chancellor also said that five people have died in the attack, while 200 others have been injured, with 40 in serious condition. He expressed concern for those in critical condition.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser have arrived in Magdeburg.

Along with Environment Minister Steffi Lemke, Transport Minister Volker Wissing and Saxony-Anhalt Minister President Reiner Haseloff, the chancellor visited St. John's Church to lay flowers near the Christmas market.

A statement from the Chancellor will follow in a few minutes.

German journalist Tim Rohn from Welt shared on X what he claimed to be an email from a Saudi woman to security officials last year, warning of an attack.

He wrote: "Tragically, we at @welt have the original email that a woman from Saudi Arabia intended to send to the police in Berlin on September 26, 2023. However, she mistakenly sent it to a police station in the 7,500-person community of Berlin, New Jersey 🇺🇸. What happened to it there remains unclear".

German newspapers report that the 50-year-old suspect's drug tests came back positive.

"Following the deadly incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, BILD has learned from police sources that Taleb A. (50) was reportedly under the influence of drugs. An initial drug test came back positive," the BILD wrote.

The alleged perpetrator has been sharing Islamophobic views online for years. 

In a 2019 FAZ interview, Taleb Abdulmohsen described himself as "the most aggressive critic of Islam in history." 

He founded an online platform to help Saudi Arabian citizens apply for asylum in Germany, claiming that the state was giving asylum to "Syrian jihadists." 

Find out more about the suspect in the link below

Who is the suspect behind Magdeburg Christmas market attack?

The suspect, a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist named Taleb A., has lived in Germany for nearly 20 years. Authorities are investigating the motives behind……

Two more people have died following the attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market, raising the death toll to four, according to German media reports.

Bild newspaper reported that 41 individuals remain in serious condition, while at least 86 others are being treated in hospitals and that 205 people have been injured in total.

Dpa news agency also confirmed the latest figures citing security sources.

Several reports, including the Magdeburg Police, have confirmed that the alleged suspect, Taleb A., is from Saudi Arabia, but has been in Germany since 2006.

Media reports suggest he was critical of Islam. In an interview from 2019 with German newspaper FAZ, he called himself ‘the most aggressive critic of Islam’.

Taleb A., a Saudi dissident, claims he sought asylum in Germany after facing death threats for renouncing Islam. He alleges he was targeted for creating a platform to help Saudi women apply for asylum in Germany.

On social media, he criticises Islam, shares conspiracy theories about Germany “Islamising Europe,” and praises the AfD’s stance on Islam.

German journalists are sharing on social media what they allege are old posts from the suspect.

Frederik Schindler from Welt wrote on X, "Four months ago today, on 21 August 2024, the #Magdeburg perpetrator posted: "Is there a way to justice in Germany without blowing up a German embassy or indiscriminately massacring German citizens? I have been looking for this peaceful way since January 2019 and have not found it."

In this post, he also alleged "crimes that Germany is committing against Saudi refugees".

Following the attack,  the city's public cultural institutions will remain closed for the next few days, authorities announced on Saturday, without giving further details, according to German media.

According to MDR, Tracy Hering from Magdeburg police confirmed that no explosive device was found in the suspect's vehicle. Earlier, the area surrounding the car had been cordoned off, as authorities had suspected possible explosives in the car.

The Magdeburg police department confirmed that the suspect was apprehended at the scene and taken into temporary custody. "We are currently treating this as the action of a lone perpetrator", the post reads. They also report that the suspect is believed to be a 50-year-old man from Saudi Arabia, confirming earlier media reports. "He was detained at the scene and taken into temporary custody", the police said.

The Magdeburg police department has shared in a post on X that several injured are receiving treatment. They also added that two people have died from their injuries.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has pledged assistance in the investigation. Following a phone conversation with State Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) on Friday evening, Faeser stated: "The authorities will clarify the circumstances behind the incident." She assured her colleague of "all possible federal support." The Federal Criminal Police Office is already assisting with the investigation by the authorities in Saxony-Anhalt.

The newly appointed EU-Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, also went on X to voice his grief for the Christmas market incident: "We are deeply saddened by the terrible events in Magdeburg. Our sympathy goes out to the victims and their families. There is no excuse for this act of violence. We will do everything we can to support the investigation and prosecution of the offence."

The French President published two posts on X - one in French, and one in German - voicing his deep condolences about the incident in Magdeburg.

He wrote: "I am deeply shocked by the horror that struck the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany this evening. My thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their families. France shares the pain with the German people, to whom it expresses its deep solidarity."

According to the Spiegel, the man arrested following the alleged attack was born in the Saudi Arabian city of Hofuf. His name is allegedly Taleb A., he arrived in Germany in March 2006 and was granted refugee status in July 2016. Der Spiegel reports that he's a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy.

Florian Flade, national security reporter for WRD Investigativ and SZ Investigativ posted on X that the suspect "was not previously known to security authorities as an Islamist. On the contrary, he was recognised as a political refugee who had renounced Islam and turned his back on the Saudi Arabian royal family. He worked as a doctor in Saxony-Anhalt."

MDR reporters have stated that the shopping centre Allee Centre, located near the Christmas market, is providing care for those with minor injuries and offering support to their relatives. A tram has also been repurposed to assist in treating those less severely injured.

Emergency services are transferring patients with more serious injuries to nearby hospitals, including in Stendal, which is a roughly 45-minute drive from Magdeburg.

Von der Leyen posted on X that her "thoughts are with the victims of the brutal and cowardly act in Magdeburg today. My condolences go to the relatives and friends, my thanks to the police and the emergency services. This act of violence must be investigated and severely punished."

AP has published videos from the side of the incident at the Christmas market in Magdeburg's city centre.

The Magdeburg university hospital has also shared its condolences following the tragic events at the Christmas market: "Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy. We are in close contact with the authorities and are offering all the support we can." They included several help-hotlines for relatives in their post.

The Magdeburg police department urged people to stay at home. "Please stay at home or make your way home. It would make our work much easier." They assured the public that latest updates will be available on their X-feed.

Eight years ago, on December 19, 2016, a Christmas market in Berlin was attacked when a man who pledged his allegiance to IS drove a stolen truck through the crowd of visitors, killing 13 people and injuring dozens.

Security measures have been reinforced since the attack in the German capital. The areas in Berlin are now protected by concrete barriers and strict security precautions have been put in place for the festive period. The question remain whether the same security measures have been introduced in smaller cities across the country. 

But just two weeks ago, German authorities reported that they have foiled a potential terror attack on a Christmas market in Bavaria after a tip-off from a foreign intelligence agency. The 37-year-old suspect from Iraq was arrested in shared accommodation for asylum-seekers in Augsburg, German newspaper Welt reported, citing the sources who allegedly said the suspect had disseminated posts on social media glorifying Islamic State (IS) and photographed the Christmas market in Augsburg. He allegedly talked about wanting to drive a car through the market, according to the Welt report.

The deadly incident in Magdeburg is sending shockwaves through Germany amid an ongoing political crisis as the country is gearing up for elections early next year.

Tomorrow, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal Minister of the Interior and Community of Germany Nancy Faeser will be travelling to the scene of the attack, reported Bild Zeitung. 

According to Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister-President Reiner Haseloff (CDU), the attack has resulted in at least two deaths, including a small child. Haseloff stated that the suspected perpetrator is a doctor from Saudi Arabia working in Saxony-Anhalt.

The police department of the German state Thuringia has urged people on X to not spread speculation and not to share videos and photos of the crime. "False information makes our investigative work even more difficult and contributes to escalation."

Less than a month ago, on November 28, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser called for "great vigilance" at Germany's popular Christmas markets. 

She stressed that there was no ‘concrete’ evidence of a threat, but rather what she called a high threat situation more broadly. "Federal security authorities do not currently have any concrete indications of danger," she told the newspapers of the RND media group.

"But in view of the high threat situation at an abstract level, we still have reason to be very vigilant and to take effective action for our security."  Nancy Faeser stated that security authorities were monitoring ‘all conceivable threats’ and pointed to the heightened security measures, including the enforcement of a strict knife ban at Christmas markets. 

Photos published by AP show that German special forces are on scene in Magdeburg.

German public broadcaster MDR reported that authorities on scene have sealed off the city centre over concerns that the suspect's vehicle may contain an explosive device. The police has not moved the car.

A video circulating on social media, which has been verified by Euronews, shows the moment of the attack. The timestamp on screen shows 19:04, and the date reads 20th of December 2024, matching the date and time of the attack earlier this evening.

The footage appears to be sped up and shows a car driving into a crowd at the Christmas market.

Head of CDU and chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz has also voiced his shock over the attack at the Christmas market in Magdeburg on X. He wrote: "This is very depressing news from Magdeburg. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I would like to thank all the emergency services who are caring for the injured at the scene."

According to Bild Zeitung, the Christmas market in Erfurt has been cleared "as a precautionary measure".

Erfurt is around 168 kilometres from Magdeburg. Thuringia's Minister of the Interior Georg Maier (SPD) explained that this measure was taken at the request of the organiser, but there were no indications of a concrete danger, reported Bild.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X that "the reports from Magdeburg are foreboding bad news." He continued: "My thoughts are with the victims and their families. We are at their side and at the side of the people of Magdeburg. My thanks go to the dedicated rescue workers in these anxious hours."

The Magdeburg police department posted on X that "extensive police operations are currently taking place at the Magdeburg Christmas market. The Christmas market in the city centre is closed."

Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister Presiden Reiner Haseloff expressed his shock over the incident. According to the German news agency dpa, he called it "a terrible event, especially in the days leading up to Christmas."

He announced he was on his way to Magdeburg to assess the situation personally, but couldn't provide any further details about the victims.

Earlier this evening, at around 19:04, a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas Market in Magdeburg. According to local newspaper, Magdeburger Volksstimme, there are reports of at least eleven people having been killed. The official number of dead and wounded has not been confirmed by the police.