On Saturday night, around 1,000 far-right protesters gathered in Magdeburg’s central square following Friday’s Christmas market attack, which left five dead and hundreds injured. The attacker, identified as a Saudi Arabian doctor, reignited fierce debates over migration policy in Germany. Protesters carried banners with messages like “remigration” and chanted anti-immigration slogans, highlighting growing discontent among certain segments of society.
Migration and the Political Landscape
The rally occurs as Germany approaches an early election on February 23, with migration set to dominate political discourse. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has gained traction, leveraging public fears stemming from security concerns. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the EU’s migration policies, drawing a direct connection between migration and terrorism.
A Divided Europe
The incident has intensified calls for stricter migration controls across Europe. The tragedy in Magdeburg underscores ongoing divisions over migration policies, sparking a renewed wave of far-right activism and debate on national security.