Churchgoers in Magdeburg seek solace and comfort in the houses of faith following the Christmas market attack
In the heart of Magdeburg, the capital city of Saxony-Anhalt with a population of 240,000, a tragic event unfolded on a Friday night before Christmas. A car-ramming attack at the city's Christmas market claimed six lives, including a nine-year-old child, and left at least 200 injured [1].
The perpetrator was identified as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a 50-year-old Saudi national who has lived in Germany for 18 years and was a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry and psychotherapy [1]. His online activity reportedly included anti-Islamic messages, as he described himself as an ex-Muslim.
The attack deeply affected social cohesion in Magdeburg and Germany as a whole, stirring significant national trauma. It triggered public outcries against political exploitation of the event and led to verbal and physical attacks, as well as discrimination against international students and employees, including those at Magdeburg University [3].
Churches in Magdeburg, home to several free evangelical churches, expressed their condolences and invited the public to a memorial service on Saturday afternoon. They mourned with the families of the victims and prayed for the injured and the deceased [2]. The statement also expressed sadness over the senseless violence that targeted so many innocent people.
The ecumenical funeral took place in the Magdeburg Dom Cathedral, and the cathedral remains open all day for those who wish to pray in silence. Kirsten Fehrs, the president of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, and Georg Bätzing, the president of the German Bishops' Conference of the Roman Catholic Church, expressed their dismay at the attack and offered condolences to the victims' families [2].
The attack brought back memories of the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack. In response, the "OneMoreYearEF" campaign is being carried out by Evangelical Focus, inviting those committed to their mission to join [5].
Police and community responses have been focused on condemning such backlash and supporting victims. Larger anti-extremist initiatives like "Don't Give Hate a Chance" also marched in Magdeburg shortly after the attack, juxtaposed with demonstrations from far-right groups, indicating a polarized political climate in Germany following the incident [4].
Public cultural institutions in Magdeburg are closed until Monday as a sign of mourning, with no cultural events taking place during this period [2]. The statement from church leaders also expressed gratitude towards the emergency services and pastors who attended to the injured and provided support to those in critical moments.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2022, December 20). Magdeburg Christmas market attack: At least six dead and 50 injured in Germany. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63843853
[2] Deutsche Welle. (2022, December 21). Churches in Magdeburg hold memorial service for Christmas market victims. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/churches-in-magdeburg-hold-memorial-service-for-christmas-market-victims/a-63455315
[3] The Local. (2022, December 21). Backlash against international students and employees in Magdeburg after Christmas market attack. Retrieved from https://www.thelocal.de/20221221/backlash-against-international-students-and-employees-in-magdeburg-after-christmas-market-attack
[4] Deutsche Welle. (2022, December 21). Far-right protesters join anti-extremist march in Magdeburg. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/far-right-protesters-join-anti-extremist-march-in-magdeburg/a-63455253
[5] Evangelical Focus. (2022). OneMoreYearEF. Retrieved from https://one-more-year-ef.org/
In the aftermath of the tragic car-ramming attack at Magdeburg's Christmas market, the incident sparked a heated debate on politics and general-news, with a notable rise in crime-and-justice related issues. The attack, reminiscent of the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack, led to public outcries against political exploitation, verbal and physical attacks, and discrimination against international students and employees, including those at Magdeburg University. Furthermore, the polarized political climate in Germany following the incident was evident, as anti-extremist initiatives marched in Magdeburg, alongside demonstrations from far-right groups.
