Nine-year-old boy killed in Christmas market attack named – latest

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:

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.”

Nearly £50,000 has been raised for André Gleissner, the Magdeburg attack’s nine-year-old victim who “will never be able to unwrap his Christmas presents”.

The tribute on the GoFundMe page set up by a friend of Andre’s mother, Desirèe, states: “André was really looking forward to Christmas. He wanted to spend the last weekend of Advent with his family at the Magdeburg Christmas market.

“But that day ended in unbelievable tragedy: André was a victim of the terrible attack on the Christmas market and will never be able to open his presents. With his cheerful smile and his joy for life, André leaves a big hole in the hearts of his family, friends and everyone who knew him.

“This fundraising campaign was launched to support André’s family during this difficult time. Funds raised will help ease the financial burden caused by this tragedy and allow the family to move through the journey of grief at their own pace.”

The youngest victim of the attack on a Christmas market in Germany has been named by his family.

In a heartbreaking social media post, the mother of nine-year-old André Gleißner paid tribute to her son, saying: “Let my little teddy bear fly around the world again. André didn’t do anything to anybody. He was only with us on earth for nine years. Why you? Just why?”

She added: “You will always live on in our hearts … I promise you that.”

Athena Stavrou has more details in this report:

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.

Minutes after a car was rammed into the bustling market, a 50-year-old doctor from Saudi Arabia named by German media as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was arrested. On Saturday evening, he was remanded into custody after appearing in court, police said.

Local media reported he 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.

Around 1,000 people congregated in the city of Magdeburg on Saturday night (21 December), after misinformation about the motives of the suspected attacker spread online.

Protesters chanted “Those who do not love Germany should leave Germany” and held a banner with the word “Remigration” on it.

There were some minor scuffles with the police, according to local media reports.

Police have arrested a 50-year-old Saudi doctor identified by local media as Taleb A, who had lived in Germany since 2006 and reportedly sympathised with Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party.

In the aftermath of the attack, an anonymous eyewitness told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper that the perpetrator drove into the ‘Fairy Tale’ area of the Magdeburg Christmas market, and that there were many families present. She and her child were able to jump to the side of the vehicle.

A restaurateur said that the driver raced directly past his burger stand, describing the conditions as “war-like”.