Still in shock after Christmas market attack, Germany’s Magdeburg braces for far-right rally

Record ID: 1891869

  • Title: Still in shock after Christmas market attack, Germany’s Magdeburg braces for far-right rally
  • Date: 23rd December 2024
  • Summary: MAGDEBURG, GERMANY (DECEMBER 23, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS NIGHT VIEWS OF ENTRANCE TO CHRISTMAS MARKET SIGN READING IN GERMAN “THE STATE CAPITAL MOURNS THE VICTIMS OF THE ATTACK ON DECEMBER 20 AT THE CHRISTMAS MARKET. OUR THANKS GO TO THE NUMEROUS EMERGENCY SERVICES, ALSO FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY AND TO ALL THOSE WHOSE THOUGHTS ARE WITH US AFTER THIS TERRIBLE ATTACK.” STREETCAR PASSING NEAR CHRISTMAS MARKET / CAR STOPPED AT RED LIGHT MOURNERS GATHERED NEAR SITE OF ATTACK, LOOKING AT FLOWERS AND CANDLES ON GROUND TWO WOMEN LOOKING DOWN AT GROUND MOURNERS LOOKING ON TWO ELDERLY WOMEN IN TEARS HUGGING EACH OTHER FLOWERS WOMAN SOBBING, DRYING HER EYES WITH TISSUE MOURNERS LOOKING ON STUFFED ANIMALS PLACED ON FLOWERS WOMAN PLACING CANDLE HANDWRITTEN SIGN ON GROUND READING IN GERMAN “LET GRIEF AND ANGER NOT TURN INTO HATE AND HATE SPEECH! OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE DEAD, THE INJURED AND THEIR NEXT OF KIN, NOT THE PERPETRATORS, ARSONISTS AND POLITICAL BENEFICIARIES” MOURNERS / FLOWERS (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSERBY, ANDREAS BOHS, SAYING: “I'll put it this way: everyone deals with this situation in their own way, some are grieving, others are angry. Everyone has the right to express their opinion and this should not be used for any political purposes here. But I know that every political party somehow does it.” (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSERBY, SABRINA GILLE, SAYING: “Actually, the AfD does not belong here, honestly. Politics should stay out of it completely because they have made so many mistakes. Without them, this would never have happened.” (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSERBY, YVONNE BENJEDO, SAYING: “It's not getting any better. We only moved here to Magdeburg six months ago and we are worried, yes.” (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSERBY, MIRKO EIMES, SAYING: “Nothing will change in this country. It just won't change. It just stays as it is. That's my opinion. Such is the situation. It's sad that they don't take action and say, he was a criminal, he has to leave, he has to be deported. Quite simple. Period. They should not ponder and say ‘let’s see.’ No. Out! All of them. Those who don’t have a permit must leave the country. Simple. That's my opinion.” (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSERBY, SABRINA GILLE, SAYING: “I'm more of a bystander. It's still very close to my heart. You try to show solidarity. Of course it touches me, especially because it concerns Magdeburg. Yes, you always thought it was far away and now it has arrived here.” CANDLES WOMAN LOOKING ON STUFFED ANIMALS VARIOUS OF MOURNERS WOMAN PLACING FLOWERS MOURNERS / FLOWERS MAN KNEELING ON GROUND SHUT CHRISTMAS MARKET STALLS PEOPLE CLEANING FOOD STALL SHUT CHRISTMAS MARKET STALLS WOMAN WRAPPING CARPET AT SHUT STALL SHUT CHRISTMAS MARKET STALLS
  • Embargoed: 6th January 2025 11:00
  • Keywords: AfD Alternative for Germany Christmas market Magdeburg attack candles car demo far-right flowers mourners rally
  • Location: MAGDEBURG, GERMANY
  • City: MAGDEBURG, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime,Europe
  • Reuters ID: LVA001898123122024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Germans searched for answers on Monday (December 23) after a man drove his car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing at least five people and injuring around 200 others and ahead of an evening rally by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
    As a nation mourned, with citizens leaving flowers and lighting candles close to where the incident took place on Friday, questions swirled about whether more could have been done and whether the authorities could have acted on warnings.
    Germany's data protection rules are among the strictest in the European Union, which federal police say has prevented them from resorting to biometric surveillance to date.
    Authorities are investigating a Saudi doctor with a history of anti-Islam rhetoric as the suspected driver in the car-ramming attack.
    The incident could sharpen a fierce debate in Germany over security and immigration ahead of a national election in February, with opinion polls suggesting the far right will perform strongly.
    Mourners gathered near the site of the attack said it should not be abused for political purposes.
    One passserby, who gave his name as Mirko Eimes, blamed politicians who he said “don't take action.”
    Eimes demanded migrants without the necessary paperwork be “deported.”
    “Out! All of them. Those who don’t have a permit must leave the country. Simple,” said Eimes.
    The co-leader of the opposition far-right, anti-migrant AfD, Alice Weidel was scheduled to speak at a rally in Magdeburg later on Monday.
    Germans are set to vote for a new parliament in snap elections on February 23, with the AfD coming in second in recent polls after the opposition conservative Christian Democrats (CDU).
    (Production: Ayhan Uyanik, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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