German market attack latest: Suspect made 2013 threat, minister reveals, as more rallies planned tonight
Nine-year-old child among five dead with 200 other people injured in attack, including 40 critical
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The suspect in the German Christmas market attack that killed five people had “threatened to do something that would attract international attention” in 2013.
A state interior minister has revealed he was flagged as a potential threat the following year and was fined, after a search of his property and an investigation found no evidence he was preparing to carry out an act.
Law enforcement in Germany is facing criticisms over security and intelligence failure after the Saudi national rammed a car into a crowd at a busy Christmas market in Magdeburg, which has injured over 200 people.
German interior minister Nancy Faeser and the heads of intelligence services are expected to answer questions at parliamentary committee hearings on 30 December.
German authorities social media said it received a tip in late summer 2023, which was "taken seriously”. Police said in a dispute over the recognition of examination results, the suspect threatened members of the state medical association with an act that would attract international attention.
Authorities named the nine-year-old boy who was among five people killed, as thousands of pounds were raised for his grieving family.
Who is the German Christmas market attack suspect? A Saudi doctor and far-right supporter
German Christmas market attack: Everything we know as car attack kills five and injures hundreds
Mother pays tribute to boy, 9, killed in German Christmas market attack: ‘Let my little teddy bear fly’
UK Christmas market has reviewed its security in wake of Magdeburg attack
Germany’s foreign minister says Christmas markets must be ‘places of solidarity'
Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock has stressed that Christmas markets should continue to be “places of solidarity and togetherness in society”, in comments to the dpa press agency.
The attack at Magdeburg has prompted several other towns to cancel their weekend Christmas markets as a precaution and out of solidarity. Berlin – which suffered a 2016 attack at a church market in which 12 people were killed and 49 injured – kept its markets open but increased the police presence.
Germany’s interior minister calls for tighter domestic security laws
Germany’s interior minister has called for parliament to urgently adopt drafted laws to tighten domestic security in the country.
Speaking to the Spiegel newspaper, Nancy Faeser said: “It is clear that we must do everything we can to protect the people of Germany from such horrific acts of violence. To do this, our security authorities need all the necessary powers and more personnel.”
Gun laws and security powers were tightened following August’s mass stabbing in Solingen, in which three people were killed and for which Isis claimed responsibility. However, Ms Faeser claimed further legislation such as a new federal police act and moves to introduce biometric surveillance were blocked primarily by her former coalition partners in the FDP.
“All of these bills of ours could be passed immediately if the Union and FDP do not refuse to do so,” Ms Faeser claimed, despite her party having lost its parliamentary majority ahead of the new year and looming elections in February.
Nine-year-old victim’s family to share fundraiser proceeds with fellow bereaved and survivors
The family of nine-year-old André Gleissner will share the proceeds of an online fundraiser with the families of other victims, after a GoFundMe set up by a family friend raised tens of thousands of pounds.
Describing André’s family as “simply overwhelmed” by the donations, which are to help towards funeral costs, the page’s organiser initially paused the fundraiser after “so much money was raised that we never expected”.
But in a later update, the organiser said they had reopened the option to donate after receiving a flood of requests from members of the public who wished to do so, adding that André’s family intend to pass on a large part of the donations to the other victims who died or were injured in the attack.
The fundraiser has so far raised nearly €65,000 (£53,000).
Perpetrator ‘does not fit any existing mould’, minister says
Germany’s interior minister Nancy Faeser has vowed that the criminal investigation into Friday’s attack would leave no stone unturned.
“The task is to piece together all findings and paint a picture of this perpetrator, who does not fit any existing mould,” Ms Faeser said.
“This perpetrator acted in an unbelievably cruel and brutal manner – like an Islamist terrorist, although he was clearly ideologically hostile to Islam,” she added.
The suspect had been strongly critical of German authorities as well as Islam in the past. He had also appeared in a number of media interviews in recent years reporting on his work helping Saudi Arabians who had turned their back on Islam to flee to Europe.
He had voiced support on social media platform X for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and for US billionaire Elon Musk, who has backed the AfD.
Sea of floral tributes laid at church close to scene of attack
A sea of flowers stretched out in front of St John’s Church in Magdeburg, close to the scene of the crime, which attracted a steady stream of tearful mourners over the weekend.
“This is my second time here. I was here yesterday. I brought flowers and it moved me so much and I had to know today how many flowers were brought,” local resident Ingolf Klinzmann told Reuters.
A sign commemorating the victims bore in large lettering the word “Why?”.
‘Minor disturbances’ as far-right demonstrates in Magdeburg
There were scuffles and some “minor disturbances” at a far-right demonstration attended by around 2,100 people on Saturday night in Magdeburg, police said. They added that criminal proceedings would follow, but did not give details.
Protesters, some wearing black balaclavas, held up a large banner with the word “remigration”, a term popular with supporters of the far right who seek the mass deportation of immigrants and people they deem not ethnically German.
Questions over suspect’s past posts on X
Local media reported that the suspect Taleb al-Abdulmohsen had shown support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD), with a Saudi source telling Reuters that the kingdom had warned German authorities about the suspect, who the source said had posted extremist views on his personal X account.
German ambassador to the UK Miguel Berger told BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme on Sunday: “The question is, ‘Does X really act against these things?’”
Full report: Anger grows in Germany over missed chances to stop Christmas market attack
As the German city of Magdeburg mourns the loss of people killed in an attack on a Christmas market, anger is growing over security concerns and previous warnings given to authorities about the suspect.
The leader of Germany’s far-left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance party, Sahra Wagenknecht, asked “why so many tips and warnings were ignored beforehand,” and called for interior minister Nancy Faeser to explain.
On the other end of the political spectrum, AfD’s parliamentary head demanded a parliamentary session be held to discuss security issues.
Far-right protesters also took to the streets of Magdeburg on Saturday evening, holding a sign which read “remigration” and calling for the mass deportation of immigrants.
My colleague Athena Stavrou reports:
Anger grows in Germany over missed chances to stop Magdeburg Christmas market attack
Authorities deemed previously suspect ‘no specific danger’ following a risk assessment
Video report | Four women and boy confirmed as those killed in German Christmas market attack
Nine-year-old victim was member of youth fire brigade
Nine-year-old André Gleissner was a member of a children’s fire brigade, it has emerged.
In a statement, the Lower Saxony youth fire brigade said: “It is with deep shock and sadness that we share in the tragic events of the terrorist attack in Magdeburg. At a time that should be marked by community, hope and reflection, we are once again confronted with fear and violence.
“We are particularly saddened by the loss of such a young life from our own ranks. André, nine years old and a committed member of the Warle children’s fire brigade in the Braunschweig district, was taken from his life by this senseless act.
“Our condolences go out to his family, his friends and everyone who was close to him. We stand by their side in these difficult times and express our deepest sympathy.”