the population of Magdeburg in shock after the attack on the Christmas market

As the investigation continues, grief dominates in Magdeburg where a vehicular attack left at least five people dead and more than 200 injured.

A car rushing into the crowd and terrible images. The toll rose to five deaths and more than 200 injured, including 40 in serious condition after the car-ramming attack in Germany on the Magdeburg Christmas market. Today this average town of 250 000 inhabitants are in shock as the investigation continues to understand the motivations of the main suspect : a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, refugee and qualified “Islamophobic” by the German Interior Minister.

Next to the church square in Magdeburg, a trumpeter plays a sad tune. In front of him, a stone's throw from the Christmas market, flowers and candles pile up in tribute to the victims. Always this same reflex of anonymous people when horror knocks at the door. There are those who tell themselves that they narrowly escaped death. A student explains that he was walking the aisles of the market only an hour before the car came to mow down the crowd of 400 meters. There is this young woman, who no longer has words, “it’s too hard”.

“It’s a tragedy”says Oliver, who came with his 7-year-old daughter years. He observes this Christmas market which no longer has anything festive, barricaded and surrounded by the police. The survival blankets were left there. “It’s difficult to explain to children what just happened hereexplains Oliver, but it is important that people come together as a community to share feelings of peace and freedom. Oliver asks about the security features: “It wasn’t enough, unfortunately.” But he promises, if possible, he will return to the market. “Life must go on.”

The silence and contemplation are swept away during a protest by activists from the AFD, the German far-right party. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is jeered as he leaves the Christmas market. “The government has opened the borders”says Daniela. According to her, “all these people, too many people are a problem. They came to our land and do not respect our culture”.

Daniela looks at the Christmas market and believes that “happiness is dead. Our Christmas days are dead”. The one who votes for the AFD wants to believe that “everything will change by voting”. The tragedy has already been overtaken by the electoral context and these early elections of February 23. But for now, Magdeburg is still in sorrow.