Mitsotakis 'Deeply Shocked' by Magdeburg Christmas Market Attack

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his profound shock regarding the tragic attack at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany. In his statement on X, he conveyed solidarity with the victims, their families, and all those affected by the incident.

He emphasized Greece's full support for Germany during this troubling time and condemned violence in society.

The attack resulted in at least two fatalities, including an adult and a child, with another 60 people injured. It occurred when a car intentionally drove into the market around 7 p.m., amidst holiday shoppers. The driver was apprehended shortly after the incident, with footage showing his arrest by police on a road near the market.

The assailant is identified as a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, who has resided in Germany since 2006, practicing medicine in Bernburg. According to Saxony-Anhalt's interior minister, he is considered a lone perpetrator, suggesting no immediate further risk to the city.

This event in Magdeburg, a city known for its Christmas market traditions, echoed a previous attack in Berlin eight years earlier. The Magdeburg incident has led to the suspension of Christmas markets in other German towns in solidarity and caution.

The impact of the attack was felt beyond Magdeburg, with responses from German leadership and international figures. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and others expressed grief and support. The event was widely condemned, including by Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry, which avoided mentioning the suspect's nationality.

In response to the tragedy, there's been a call for vigilance at public events, highlighted by German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser's earlier comments. The attack has led to a somber atmosphere, with memorials planned and moments of silence observed in solidarity, as noted by local reactions and official responses.