Germany

A tragic incident at Magdeburg's Christmas market left five dead and over 200 injured when a car plowed through crowds. The suspect, 50-year-old Saudi refugee Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen, was arrested, though his motives remain unclear. Unlike previous attacks on German Christmas markets, typically associated with Islamic extremism, Al-Abdulmohsen had expressed criticism of Islam and support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on social media, praising their shared mission "to protect Germany." The AfD, currently leading polls ahead of February's federal elections, held a rally in Magdeburg where co-leader Alice Weidel called for enhanced security. The crowd responded with calls for deportations. The party's regional leader, Martin Reichardt, blamed "political and religious fanaticism from another world" despite the suspect's anti-Islamic stance. Security concerns emerged as investigations revealed the suspect had been previously monitored, but threats were deemed "too unspecific." A […]