Nine-Year-Old Victim Identified in Christmas Market Attack
A nine-year-old boy has been named as the first victim of the tragic Christmas market attack in Magdeburg, Germany, that left several dead.
Magdeburg, Germany, André Gleißner, Christmas Market, Attack, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen
Magdeburg: A nine-year-old boy named André Gleißner was the first victim identified in the tragic Christmas market attack. He lost his life alongside four women when a driver, allegedly a Saudi doctor, plowed through the market in a dark BMW.
André’s mother, Désirée, shared her heartbreak on Facebook, saying, “Let my little teddy bear fly around the world again. He didn’t do anything to anybody. Why you? Just why?”
In the wake of the attack, hundreds of far-right protesters took to the streets of Magdeburg, demanding the mass deportation of migrants. They chanted slogans like “deportation” and “migration kills,” while some wore black and covered their faces.
The suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, had been in Germany since 2006 and had expressed strong anti-immigration views, even supporting the far-right AfD party. Local media reported minor clashes between protesters and police during the demonstrations.
Outside the Magdeburg Cathedral, people gathered for a memorial service to honor André and the other victims. Meanwhile, a man was charged for inciting hatred during a moment of silence at a football match in Essen.
Local migrant organizations expressed concern that the attack would be used for political gain, urging that Magdeburg should not become a platform for right-wing agitation.
Germany’s interior minister announced an investigation into whether the attack could have been prevented. Nancy Faeser stated that authorities would look into past warnings about the suspect and how they were handled.
Despite being known for erratic behavior, police had assessed Abdulmohsen and concluded he posed no concrete danger. Reports indicated that Saudi Arabia had warned Germany about his extreme views multiple times, but no action was taken.
Abdulmohsen was due in court for previous erratic behavior just days before the attack. He has now been charged with five counts of murder and multiple attempted murder charges.
After the incident, Elon Musk called for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign, linking the attack to his support for the AfD party.