Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into the Magdeburg Attack Convenes in Saxony-Anhalt
Magdeburg, Germany – The parliamentary committee of inquiry into the Magdeburg attack has held its inaugural meeting in the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt.
"The motives must be clarified, the circumstances must be clarified," said Anne-Marie Keding (CDU), Vice President of the state parliament, at the start of the meeting. She emphasized that many of the victims would bear the consequences of the horrific act for the rest of their lives.
Shortly before Christmas, a Saudi Arabian man drove a car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing six people and injuring nearly 300.
Scope of the Investigation
The committee of inquiry will examine various aspects of the incident, including:
- The security concept of the event organizer
- Police deployment concepts for the Christmas market and their implementation
- Information available about the perpetrator, who had been in contact with authorities in previous investigations
- Warnings or indications known to these authorities, and why potential threats were not recognized
- The perpetrator’s medical license and the extent to which his suitability and competence as a physician in the forensic psychiatry system were verified
Evidence Gathering
As a first step, the committee will focus on the events surrounding the attack itself. Witnesses, first responders, and police officers will be heard.
Data Exchange Initiative
The state government has already launched a Bundesrat initiative to improve data exchange between police, security, health, weapons, and potentially immigration authorities.
Background
On December 24, 2022, a 32-year-old man from Saudi Arabia intentionally drove a car into a crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. Six people were killed, and nearly 300 were injured, including several children. The perpetrator was apprehended at the scene.
Investigators have said that the man, who had been living in Germany since 2015, had initially sought political asylum but had later withdrawn his application. He had been in contact with police and intelligence agencies in connection with previous investigations, but no concrete plans or threats had been identified.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, although investigators have said they believe it may have been politically motivated. The Saudi Arabian embassy in Berlin has condemned the attack and offered condolences to the victims and their families.
Aftermath
In the wake of the attack, authorities have increased security measures at Christmas markets across Germany. There have also been calls for tighter controls on migration and a ban on foreigners holding firearms.
The committee of inquiry is expected to spend several months investigating the incident and will issue a report with its findings and recommendations.
