Grief and horror: Gislason about fatal Magdeburg attack!

On December 20, 2024, a fatal attack on the Magdeburg Christmas market shook the region. The perpetrator, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old specialist in psychiatry, drove to the Christmas market with a rented black BMW SUV through a rescue alley and caught numerous people. Five people were killed on the amocran, including a nine-year-old child from Lower Saxony and four women between the ages of 45 and 75 from Saxony-Anhalt. There were also over 200 injuries, 41 of whom suffered serious injuries. The incident occurred at 7:02 p.m. (CET), the vehicle drove about 300 meters through the crowd before the perpetrator was arrested by the police outside of the Christmas market.

The background of the crime is so far unclear. The public prosecutor and the Federal Attorney General have started the investigation, but no political motive was found. Before the crime, Saudi Arabia is said to have warned German security authorities three times about Al-Abdulmohsen, but indications of violent threats and possible preparations for violations were not adequately pursued. The perpetrator expressed dissatisfaction with how to deal with Saudi Arabian refugees in Germany, experts assign him and his motivation to the right-wing extremist spectrum. After the attack, attacks on migrant people and a wave of false information on social media occurred.

reactions to the attack

Handball national coach Alfred Gislason expressed a deeply affected manner about the incident. In an interview, he reported that he knew the location of the action well, since he has lived in Wendgraben, near Magdeburg, for around 25 years. Gislason was shaken and appealed to stand up for values ​​and lifestyle. He expressed concern about the global pressure and the dissatisfaction of many people, who in his opinion are rooted in the financial imbalance worldwide. He also warned of a tendency towards the oligarchy, in which money determines politics and criticized the influence of donors on the media and politics, which leads to a distortion of the perception of the needs of poor people.

The attack has triggered international statements of solidarity, including from Saudi Arabia, Austria, France and the USA. In Germany, the security measures at Christmas markets were increased, and a memorial service and a mourning flag for the victims were ordered. Critics question the security concept of the Christmas market because it was possible to penetrate with vehicles.