Attack in Magdeburg

How Austria’s Christmas markets are protected

Christmas market on Rathausplatz in Vienna (archive image)

(Bild: Wolfgang Spitzbart)

Several people were killed in a terrorist attack in Magdeburg on Friday evening. Between 60 and 80 others are believed to have been injured. "The reports from Magdeburg are staggering", said Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP). Here in Austria, too, the current situation is now being assessed as a matter of course.

The security measures for Christmas markets throughout Austria had already been increased several weeks ago, said Karner. Both armed special forces and civilian investigators were deployed. "The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is in close contact with numerous European security authorities in order to constantly assess the situation," said the Interior Minister. This also includes Islamist extremism and terrorism.

According to a statement from the Federal Ministry, the police are focusing on theft and preventing "extremist threats". The "increased threat situation" has been in place since October 2023 - also in many other European countries. 

Carinthian capital responds to attack
In order to increase security at Carinthia's largest Christmas market in Klagenfurt, the city has convened its own security summit. "The market has been well secured for years, but we have to see how we can avoid a tragedy like the one in Magdeburg," explains city boss Christian Scheider to the "Krone" newspaper.

Concrete crash barriers have already been erected in Klagenfurt.

(Bild: Tragner Christian)

As reported, a dark BMW crashed into a crowd of people at the Christmas market in downtown Magdeburg shortly after 7 p.m. on Friday evening - according to the police, it covered "at least 400 meters" between the Christmas stalls. Dozens of people were reported injured, but late on Friday evening, Saxony-Anhalt's Minister President Reiner Erich Haseloff was only able to confirm two fatalities - including a small child.

The attack in Magdeburg occurred on Friday evening shortly after 7pm.

(Bild: picturedesk.com/Dörthe Hein / dpa / picturedesk.com)

The exact number of dead and injured was not yet known.

(Bild: picturedesk.com/Dörthe Hein / dpa / picturedesk.com)

The suspected perpetrator, who is said to be a man from Saudi Arabia aged around 50, was arrested after the attack. A large contingent of emergency services gathered at the scene after the attack - some of the many injured were treated in specially erected tents.

Here you can see Alexander Van der Bellen's post.

How Austria's politicians reacted
Many Austrian politicians were still shocked on Friday evening. "This is terrible news from Magdeburg", wrote Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. His thoughts were "with the victims, their families and all those affected by this terrible attack."

Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), who also mentioned the rescue workers, said the news would "leave us stunned". Green Party leader Werner Kogler tweeted "solidarity with the victims, relatives and all those providing help in these difficult hours". SPÖ leader Andreas Babler also wished them much strength.

FPÖ: "Images are repeating themselves"
General Secretary Michael Schnedlitz, for example, reacted from the FPÖ on Friday evening. "It is simply sad to see the terrible images. The big problem is that these images are repeated over and over again. Europe has been held hostage by Islamist terror since 2015 at the latest."