Tributes to nine-year-old killed in Christmas market attack
Local fire brigade have paid tribute to a nine-year-old child killed in a Christmas market attack in Germany.
André Gleißner died Friday night after a car plowed into a group of shoppers at a Magdeburg market, according to the Schöppenstedt fire department.
He was a member of the children’s fire brigade in Varler, about an hour’s drive from Magdeburg, they said in a statement.
Four women, aged 45, 52, 67 and 75, also died in the attack. The authorities are Pretrial detention of suspects Murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.
A statement from the fire department said: “Our thoughts are with Andre’s relatives and we want to support them during this difficult time.”
The Lower Saxony Youth Fire Brigade also paid tribute to the nine-year-old.
“Our condolences go out to his family, friends and everyone close to him,” the statement said.
“We stand with them during these difficult times and express our deepest sympathies,” the statement added.
Friday’s attack injured more than 200 people, some seriously.
The four women who were also killed have not yet been identified.
Police said the car plowed into the crowded market through the emergency vehicle channel at around 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Friday.
Witnesses described jumping out of the car’s path, running away or hiding. Unconfirmed social media videos showed vehicles speeding on sidewalks between stalls.
The driver then returned to the road and was forced to stop in traffic and was arrested, police said.
About 100 police, paramedics and firefighters responded to the scene, according to city officials.
Police said a 50-year-old man was remanded in custody on suspicion of five counts of murder, multiple attempted murders and dangerous bodily harm.
Local media identified the suspect as Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, a Saudi-born psychiatrist who arrived in Germany in 2006.
The motive behind the attack was unclear, but authorities said they believed the driver acted alone.
German authorities are facing security concerns after receiving warnings last year that the suspects could pose a threat.
The Saudi foreign ministry said it had warned the German government about Abdulmosen’s extremist views but had received no response.
