Four days after a car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg left five dead and over 200 injured, mourners gathered to pay tribute as debates over security and political responses intensified, casting a shadow over Germany’s Christmas celebrations.
Four days after a devastating car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, the mood remained sombre on Tuesday (24 December), the day Germans traditionally celebrate Christmas.
Mourners gathered at the site of Friday night's tragedy, surrounded by flowers and candles, to honour the victims. The attack left five people dead and over 200 injured, sparking disbelief, anger, and grief among those paying their respects. Many expressed frustration with politicians, suggesting the incident might have been preventable.
“It's not Christmas as usual, it's a long way from Merry Christmas,” said Kerstin Brinkmann-Schneider, a passerby.
On Monday evening, around 3,500 people attended a rally organised by the anti-migrant AfD party in Magdeburg's cathedral square. During the event, co-leader Alice Weidel called for changes "so we can finally live once again in security." The crowd responded with cries of "deport them."
In contrast, an estimated 4,000 counter-demonstrators, carrying candles, formed a human chain in protest. They condemned the use of the tragedy for political purposes and voiced opposition to the spread of hate.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has since called for stricter internal security measures, proposing new laws to bolster police forces and introducing biometric surveillance systems.
Frank Werner, a mourner and visitor to the Christmas market, reflected on the tragedy: “We were at the Christmas market ourselves and only left the market 20 minutes before the attack. And when we got home, I was already getting emails from abroad where people were worried. They already saw reports on television in France and in Mexico about the attack in Magdeburg. That is of course, well, I don't really know what to say. It's all terribly sad."
Another mourner, who chose to remain unnamed, wiped away tears and simply said, “It's terrible. I don't want to say anything more about it now.”
The tragic event has cast a shadow over the holiday season in Magdeburg, leaving many to grapple with a profound sense of loss and a yearning for answers.
Azerbaijan is seeking to attract more European visitors by improving air connectivity and raising its profile as an international tourism des...
Russia says no plague cases have been detected among contacts of a laboratory worker who died in Siberia, with most tests negative for infectious d...
Space-agency chiefs and industry leaders met to discuss lunar exploration, satellite networks and orbital security on Tuesday as a major global spa...
Australian counterterrorism authorities are examining the links of the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to take control of a flydubai flight bound for Israel. Authorities in New Zealand have also said they are investigating reports the suspect had spent time in that country.
Right-wing Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff of the presidential election later this month, after he exceeded expectations in Sunday's first-round vote with a slight lead over the incumbent.
Russia says no plague cases have been detected among contacts of a laboratory worker who died in Siberia, with most tests negative for infectious diseases and many quarantined people already released.
Iran's Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad has resigned, with Hamid Bovard, chief executive of the state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), appointed as acting oil minister, according to Iranian state media.
Candidates elected to Bosnia and Herzegovina's three-member presidency declared victory after preliminary unofficial results showed Denis Becirovic leading the Bosniak seat, Darijana Filipovic ahead in the Croat seat and Zeljka Cvijanovic likely retaining the Serb seat.
Space-agency chiefs and industry leaders met to discuss lunar exploration, satellite networks and orbital security on Tuesday as a major global space congress entered its second day.
Police fired tear gas at protesters blockading French high schools on Tuesday as students, teachers and parents took to the streets on the biggest day of action in a wave of demonstrations against understaffed and dilapidated classrooms.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
Kenya has confirmed its first case of Ebola after a Kenyan citizen who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died in Nairobi, prompting health authorities to launch an urgent contact-tracing operation.
A regional conference on Afghanistan in Moscow ended on Monday without a joint statement after Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban delegation failed to agree on wording about terrorism. It was the first time since the inaugural meeting that participants failed to issue a joint statement.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment