The Magdeburg attack gives the AfD fertile ground despite the suspect’s support for the party

“I feel bad, I still do,” said Eidwicht, standing at a Christmas market near where a car drove by on Friday, killing five people and injuring more than 200.

“My grandson is there. I called him because my daughter told me that something happened here. He didn’t answer for two hours.”

There is a lot of sadness here – and anger towards the government and the immigrants. “It can’t go on like this,” said Eidwicht.

A 50-year-old Saudi refugee has been arrested in connection with the incident, but the motive for the attack is still unknown.

Officials say Taleb Al-Abdulmohsen was an “unusual” attacker. Christmas markets and festivals in Germany have been attacked before, especially by Islamists.

He has been described as critical of Islam and has expressed support on social media for the far-right Alternative for Germany group, praising the group for fighting the same enemy as himself “to protect Germany”.

The AfD did not comment on those vacancies. The party held a meeting in Magdeburg later on Monday where co-leader Alice Weidel called for change “so we can remain secure”. The crowd responded with calls for them to be “fired” according to news agencies.

His party is currently at the top of opinion polls ahead of federal elections on February 23, especially in states such as Saxony-Anhalt in the former East Germany.

The attack highlighted two major electoral issues, security and immigration, and AfD figures have highlighted both since the attack.

Although the suspect has many statements showing hostility to Islam, the head of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, Martin Reichardt, said in a statement that “the attack in Magdeburg shows that Germany is attracted to political and religious activities from abroad.”.

In an article on X, Weidel said that the government’s discussion of new security laws following the attack “must not distract from the fact that Magdeburg would not exist without uncontrolled immigration. The state must protect its citizens with a policy that prevents migration and consistent deportations. !”

There was also a counter-protest, with anti-apartheid groups accusing the AfD of exploiting the attack.

David Begrich from Miteinander eV said that the people of this city need a chance to breathe.

“In immigrant communities, there is a lot of concern about being made a scapegoat,” he said. “We don’t want that. We want to organize unity in the whole community, but at the same time we sympathize with the voices of those who are reacting with fear and uncertainty.”

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has appealed for national unity, saying “there is a dark shadow over Christmas”.

“Hatred and violence must not have the last word. Let’s not allow division. Let’s fight!” he said.

The Germans asked how this attack could have happened, when security had already been tightened at the Christmas markets and when the authorities had clearly investigated the suspect many times in recent years.

His threat was considered “too vague”, according to one review, and one ear about him in September 2023 seems to have fallen through the cracks.

In what seems to have been a security failure, the driver was able to enter the space that was left open for emergency vehicles to enter when it was supposed to be closed by the police van.

The sellers at the Christmas market have been allowed to return, they will throw away the old food and take out their goods and stocks.

No one I could reach wanted to talk to the BBC. Everything is very green.

There has also been hostility towards journalists in the past few days, especially after around 2,000 people joined a far-right protest in Magdeburg on Saturday night.

The Association of German Journalists said there had been violence and threats against the media and called for more police protection.

A BBC team joined mourners gathered in Cathedral Square for a live vigil for the victims of the attack and many of those they spoke to said it was important to show solidarity at a time of great stress.

But one woman wrote a cautionary note. There are “Nazis here, who don’t like journalists,” he said. “Please note.”