Mourning and outrage: Germany reevaluates safety and policy
In the Friday attack at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, nine-year-old Andre Gleissner was killed. The boy was one of five victims of the attack. His mother and the local fire brigade paid tribute to him in moving posts.
The echoes of the tragedy at the Christmas market in Magdeburg continue, where on Friday evening a car drove into a crowd of people.
As a result of the attack, five people died, including nine-year-old Andre Gleissner. The perpetrator, a Saudi national living in Germany since 2006, was arrested.
The mother of the deceased boy, Désirée Gleissner, published a touching post on Facebook in which she bid farewell to her son.
"Let my little bear fly around the world again..." she wrote, expressing her grief over the loss of her child. Andre was a member of the children's fire brigade in Warle, which the local firefighters highlighted, appealing for support for the family.
During the funeral service in Magdeburg, Bishop Friedrich Kramer spoke about the tragedy, questioning how to explain the death of the boy at the market to children.
- Is there still a safe place that nobody will destroy? - he pondered, expressing sympathy for the families of the victims.
Discussion on migration policy
The attack sparked widespread outrage among the German public and triggered a discussion about migration policy.
Some media assess that it is the result of losing control over borders, calling for reflection on political mistakes.
The perpetrator of the attack, a 50-year-old psychiatrist, was known for anti-Islamic views and online activity. He sympathized with the right-wing party AfD.
