Dismay and sadness: The reactions to the Christmas market attack in Magdeburg are unanimous in German politics. As long as the background is not fully known, commentators are reluctant to make a classification. However, there are voices from abroad that are not waiting for clarification.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his condolences. “The reports from Magdeburg suggest something bad,” the SPD politician wrote on X and announced on the evening of the attack that he would travel to Saxony-Anhalt on Saturday.
Union candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke on X about “depressing news” and thanked the emergency services. Green Party candidate for chancellor Robert Habeck expressed himself almost word for word. “What terrible news from Magdeburg, where people wanted to spend the Advent season in peace and community,” he also wrote.
All news about the attack in Magdeburg in our live ticker.
The Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Pure Haseloff (CDU) said at a press conference that he expected an investigation by the Federal Prosecutor's Office.
AfD candidate for chancellor Alice Weidel asked when “the madness” would end. At the time, she had no way of knowing that the alleged perpetrator had declared his support for the AfD as an anti-Islamist on social media.
BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht called for more to be done to prevent such acts – without specifying what those steps should be.
Tesla boss and Trump advisor Elon Musk used the attack to sharpen his comments on the situation in Germany. He had already called for the AfD to vote the evening before – several hours before the incident. Musk wrote of “intentional mass murder” immediately after the incident. He called on the Chancellor to resign. This is an “incompetent fool”.
Musk added on Saturday night that whoever let the alleged perpetrator into the country must be severely punished – after all, he has been wanted for a long time with an arrest warrant in Saudi Arabia. However, the purpose of asylum is to protect people from state persecution in their homeland.
Also the British Brexit supporter and populist Nigel Farage expressed little sympathy for X. “We allow people who hate us and our values to come to Europe. Christmas is her goal. “Why?” he wrote on X.
Die US government Germany assured its solidarity and expressed its condolences to the victims' families. “We stand in solidarity with the German people in mourning the people who lost their lives,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. The United States stands ready to provide support as recovery efforts continue and authorities investigate this horrific incident. Germany is one of the closest partners and strongest allies, Miller continued. The USA stands by his side today and in the coming weeks. “There is no place for violence in our societies.” The USA is shocked and saddened by the attack.
He is also French President Emmanuel Macron Germany expressed the country's solidarity – as well Saudi Arabia. “The Kingdom expresses its solidarity with the German people and the families of the victims,” the Foreign Ministry wrote in a statement on X. Accordingly, the Kingdom reiterates its stance of rejecting violence. We wish the injured a speedy recovery.
President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) called for clarification of the background and “harsh punishment”. She spoke of a “brutal and cowardly act”.
Also the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was “deeply shocked”, and her Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez expressed similar sentiments. The future US Vice President JD Vance was also dismayed. “What a terrible attack so close to Christmas,” he wrote.
“We are shocked by the reports of the attack today in Magdeburg, Germany,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General. “We express our condolences to the families of the victims as well as to the government and the people of the Federal Republic.”
