Magdeburg attack provides far-right fertile ground despite suspects’ support for AfD

“I felt bad, still do,” Idevich said, as she stood at a Christmas market near the spot where a car speeded by on Friday, killing five people and more than two hundred others. Were injured.

“My granddaughter was here. I called her because my daughter told me something happened here. And she didn’t answer for two hours.”

There is deep sadness here – and anger at the government and the migrants. “It can’t go on like this,” Iadvich said.

A 50-year-old Saudi refugee has been arrested for the attack but the motive is unknown.

Authorities say Taleb al-Abdulmohsen was an “atypical” attacker. Germany’s Christmas markets and festivals have previously come under attack, primarily by extremist Islamists.

Abdulmohsin has been described as a critic of Islam and also voiced support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party on social media, praising the party for fighting the same enemy as him “to defend Germany”.

The AfD has not commented on those posts – and the party is planning a mourning procession in Magdeburg later on Monday, which national party leader Alice Weidel will attend.

His party currently tops opinion polls ahead of federal elections on February 23, especially in states such as Saxony-Anhalt in the former East Germany.

The attack has brought two major election issues, security and immigration, to the fore, and AfD figures since the attack have highlighted both.

Despite the suspect’s numerous statements expressing hostility toward Islam, Martin Reichardt, head of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, said in a statement, “The attack in Magdeburg shows that Germany is being drawn into political and religious radicalism, which has The origin is in another world”.

In a post on Civilians must be protected!”

A counter-demonstration will also be organized and anti-racism groups in Magdeburg have accused the AfD of exploiting the attack.

David Begrich of Mitteinander EV said the city’s people needed a chance to catch their breath.

“There is a lot of concern about scapegoating in migrant communities,” he said. “We don’t want that. We want to build solidarity across society, but we are also sensitive to the voices of those who are reacting now with fear and uncertainty.”

Germans are asking how the attack could have happened, when security was already increased at Christmas markets and when authorities had apparently investigated the suspect several times in recent years.

According to one assessment, the threat he posed was considered “highly unspecified”, while a tip-off against him in September 2023 appears to have been disproven.

In another apparent security failure, the driver also managed to drive through a space that was left open for emergency access when it should have been occupied by a police van.

Stallholders at Christmas markets are now allowed to return, throw away old food and remove their equipment and stock.

No one I contacted wanted to talk to the BBC. It’s all very crude.

Hostility towards journalists has also been seen in the past few days, especially after about 2,000 people attended a far-right protest in Magdeburg on Saturday night.

The German Journalists’ Association said there had been aggression and threats against the press and appealed for more police protection.

The BBC team joined mourners gathered in Cathedral Square for a live stream of the vigil for the victims of the attack, and many who spoke to them said it was important to show solidarity during a terrible crisis.

But one woman took precautions. “There are some Nazis here who don’t like journalists,” he said. “Please be careful.”