Terrorist attack in Magdeburg shakes up German election race
The Friday terrorist attack in Magdeburg, though its background has not yet been fully explained, is already significantly influencing the German election campaign.
Germany is in shock after the attack on the Christmas Market in Magdeburg. Experts do not doubt that these events will impact the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for February 2025. "Bild" emphasizes that the quick reaction of politicians who went to Magdeburg shows they understand the seriousness of the situation. At the same time, the newspaper's journalists note that overly pompous rhetoric may only anger citizens.
The upcoming elections will not only decide who will lead Germany out of the economic crisis but also indicate whom the citizens trust to restore security. On Friday evening, 50-year-old Taleb Abdul Jawad, originally from Saudi Arabia, drove a car into a crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. The attack resulted in the deaths of five people, and as many as 200 others were injured.
Magdeburg's chief prosecutor, Horst Walter Nopens, stated that the motive for the perpetrator's actions might have been dissatisfaction with the treatment of Saudi Arabian refugees in Germany. German media report that Taleb Abdul Jawad is a critic of Islam and a supporter of the right-wing populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The attacker has repeatedly captured the attention of German authorities by publicly threatening to commit crimes. In 2013, he was sentenced to 90 days for disturbing the peace. Jawad has lived in Germany since 2006, obtaining a medical education there. In 2014, he threatened officials with suicide if he did not receive financial support.
Early elections in Germany
The attack in Magdeburg has shaken society and intensified the debate about the security of markets. Residents are outraged by the attitude of politicians who repeat the same phrases without taking specific actions. The German public intensely debates precautionary measures, hoping to prevent future tragedies.
Early Bundestag elections will be held on February 23, 2025. They were prompted by the lack of confidence in Chancellor Scholz's government expressed in the Bundestag. As experts point out, the events in Magdeburg will certainly influence their course and results.
