German authorities report incidents of anti-Muslim attacks
Germany's Anti-Racism Commissioner has voiced apprehension after receiving reports of anti-Muslim incidents subsequent to a recent car attack on a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg, which resulted in five fatalities.
TRT World reported that since the weekend, anti-racism counseling centers in Magdeburg and its surrounding regions have observed a worsening atmosphere of hostility and violent incidents targeting migrants and Muslims. These developments were highlighted by Reem Alabali-Radovan in Berlin on Monday.
“Regrettably, this act is currently being exploited as a channel for racism, which is entirely unacceptable. We must staunchly reject any form of political manipulation associated with this issue,” she stated.
Earlier today, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck urged the nation’s populace to refrain from inciting animosity towards Muslims and foreigners following the recent attack.
On Friday evening, Germany’s NTV broadcaster announced that a vehicle collided with a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg. By Saturday, Saxony-Anhalt’s Minister-President, Reiner Haseloff, reported that the incident resulted in five fatalities and left over 200 individuals injured.
Authorities have identified the driver as a 50-year-old Saudi national, believed to have acted independently. According to the Suddeutsche Zeitung, the individual was granted refugee status in July 2016 and holds a valid residence permit in Germany.
